REG - Hilton Food Grp Plc - 2025 Full Year Trading Update

Hilton FoodAnnouncement

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RNS Number : 8099Q  Hilton Food Group PLC  29 January 2026

29 January 2026

HILTON FOOD GROUP PLC

2025 FULL YEAR TRADING UPDATE

Hilton Food Group plc ('Hilton Foods' or 'the Group'), the leading
international multi-protein food business, today provides a trading update for
the 52-week period to 28 December 2025.

 

·    2025 adjusted financial results expected to be in line with
expectations

·    Continuing caution on 2026 outlook

 

Full Year 2025 Performance

·    Full year 2025 adjusted profit before tax expected to be within the
previously provided guidance range of £72m to £75m.

·   Net bank debt expected to be around £135m (FY2024 £131.4m). This
reflects recent divestments, and a planned partial unwind of inventory built
in the UK in the first half of 2025 to support peak seasonal demand.

·    As expected, good Christmas trading across red meat and salmon
categories.

·  Continued strength in long-term customer partnerships has led to
successful contract renewals in core retail meat partnerships in the
Netherlands and Denmark.

·    Foppen continues to supply smoked salmon to the US market from its
Netherlands facility, following ongoing restrictions imposed at its facility
in Greece. US stock write-offs are now expected to be significantly higher
than previously indicated. The Group currently anticipates treating this cost
as a non-underlying item.

 

All 2025 reported financial figures remain subject to audit.

 

2026 Outlook

We expect the restrictions on smoked salmon exports from Greece to the US to
remain for at least the first half of 2026 and the inflationary pressures in
beef and white fish to continue. While we are actively working on
opportunities for business transformation and profit improvement against this
backdrop, we remain cautious on the outlook for the year. We now expect 2026
adjusted profit before tax to be within the range of £60m to £65m.

 

Strategic Review

The Group's strategic review is nearing completion. We will share its
conclusions and provide further detail, including updated key performance
indicators and refreshed medium term targets, alongside our 2025 full year
results.

The review is expected to reinforce Hilton Foods' focus on the core meat
capabilities that have underpinned its long-term success. It is also expected
to highlight those areas that sit outside these core competencies and the
strategic options available to maximise value for the Group. Operationally,
the review is expected to identify opportunities for efficiencies and
investment, including supporting further growth into new geographies.

The recently announced enhanced senior leadership structure will support
delivery of the review's outcomes.

The Group will announce its 2025 full year results on 31 March 2026.

 

Mark Allen OBE, Executive Chair said:

"We're pleased that Christmas trading was in line with our expectations, which
reflects the continued strength of our partnerships with customers. However,
the Group continues to be impacted by the situation at Foppen and sustained
elevated inflation levels. Hence, we are taking a cautious approach to
guidance for 2026.

"Supported by the Board, our strategic review is expected to reaffirm the
focus on our core meat capabilities and highlight opportunities to drive
sustainable long-term value. I am delighted to welcome Samy Zekhout and
Melanie Chambers into their expanded executive roles as Chief Operating
Officers. With the support of the enhanced leadership structure, we remain
confident in Hilton Foods' long-term prospects. We look forward to sharing
further detail, including updated performance indicators and medium-term
targets, at the 2025 full year results in March."

 

END

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of
EU Regulation 596/204 (which forms part of domestic UK law pursuant to
the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018) and has been authorised for
release by Robin Miller Group General Counsel and Company Secretary.

For further information please contact:

 Hilton Food Group plc                        Tel: +44 (0) 1480 387214
 Mark Allen, Executive Chair

 Matt Osborne, Chief Financial Officer

 Martyn Espley, Investor Relations Director

 Headland Consultancy                         Tel: +44 (0) 20 3805 4822
 Susanna Voyle                                Email: hiltonfood@headlandconsultancy.com
                                              (mailto:hiltonfood@headlandconsultancy.com)
 Will Smith
 Joanna Clark

 

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