Categories: Business

India’s Britannia posts Q3 profit fall on soft rural demand

CHENNAI/BENGALURU (Reuters): Indian biscuit maker Britannia Industries (BRIT.NS) reported a nearly 2% fall in third-quarter profit on Tuesday, hurt by subdued rural demand and elevated competition from smaller packaged food makers.

Britannia, which sells Jim Jam and NutriChoice biscuits, reported consolidated profit before exceptional items and tax of 7.61 billion rupees ($91.7 million) for the third quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with 7.74 billion rupees a year earlier.

The company recorded a one-off gain of 3.76 billion rupees from a stake sale in the year-ago quarter.

The weak earnings come in the face of intense price competition. The company has previously mentioned reducing certain product prices after competitors took advantage of declining raw material expenses to lower prices and attract more consumers.

Rural spending on treats and snacks has also been constrained by the high cost of living.

Total revenue from operations rose just over 1% to 42.56 billion rupees, roughly in line with the growth in the previous quarter when it reported its lowest increase in more than two years.

The Good Day biscuit maker’s shares climbed 18% last quarter, outperforming an 11% increase in India’s bluechip Nifty 50 (.NSEI) index.

The Frontier Post

Recent Posts

Noncitizen voting, already illegal in federal elections, becomes a centerpiece of 2024 GOP messaging

NEW YORK (AP): One political party is holding urgent news conferences and congressional hearings over…

53 mins ago

Fighting rages in Gaza’s Rafah

GAZA (AFP): Heavy clashes and bombardment Saturday rocked Gaza's southern city of Rafah, witnesses said,…

1 hour ago

Austria to resume aid to UN agency for Palestinians

VIENNA (AFP): Austria said Saturday it will restore its funding to the UN agency for…

1 hour ago

Oil tanker hit by missile off Yemen: security firm

DUBAI (AFP): A crude oil tanker was hit by a missile off the coast of…

1 hour ago

North Korea confirms missile launch, Kim Jong Un vows bolstered nuclear force

PYONGYANG (AFP): North Korea has test-fired a tactical ballistic missile equipped with a "new autonomous…

1 hour ago

Israeli leaders split over post-war Gaza governance

JERUSALEM (AFP): New divisions have emerged among Israel’s leaders over post-war Gaza’s governance, with an…

1 hour ago

This website uses cookies.