REG - Robinson PLC - AGM Trading Statement

RobinsonAnnouncement

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RNS Number : 1675F  Robinson PLC  21 May 2026

Robinson
plc

21 May 2026

AGM TRADING STATEMENT

Robinson plc ("Robinson", the "Company" or the "Group"; stock code: RBN), the
custom manufacturer of plastic and paperboard packaging, is holding its Annual
General Meeting today at 11:30am at the Peak Edge Hotel, Darley Road,
Chesterfield S45 0LW. The Chairman, Alan Raleigh, will make the following
statement:

 

Current trading

 

"Sales volumes in the first four months of the year are 7% above the same
period in 2025. Including the effect of sales price and foreign exchange
movements, total revenue is 6% above the same period in 2025.

 

Sales volumes in the UK continue to exceed the prior year, reflecting new
projects won and implemented over the previous 24 months. In Plastics, PET
bottles continue to perform well across all sectors and, in the first quarter,
we increased our share of the PP chilled soup sector. In Paperbox, we recently
completed a substantial new project and revenue in this business is more than
double the same period in 2025, but profits are at a similar level due to an
isolated raw material quality issue.

 

Sales in Denmark were better than expected due to strong demand from a major
customer.

 

The trading environment in Poland remains challenging and, in the first four
months of the year, sales volumes were 17% lower than the same period in 2025.
We have recently been awarded two new projects in this business, demonstrating
that we can compete effectively; however, these will take time to implement as
they require investment in new plant and machinery, with limited benefit
expected in 2026.

 

Despite the higher revenue, underlying operating profit* in the first four
months of 2026 was below the same period in 2025, reflecting the challenging
trading environment.

 

Net debt

 

Net debt increased to £6.5m at 30 April 2026 (31 December 2025: £5.4m),
reflecting £1.6m of capital expenditure, partly offset by £0.6m of surplus
property proceeds.

 

Outlook

 

We expect underlying operating profit* for the 2026 financial year to be in
line with current market expectations.

 

We expect revenue and profit growth in our UK Plastics business, driven by the
benefit of known new customer projects, while trading conditions in Poland are
expected to remain challenging. The Paperbox business is expected to make a
similar contribution to the prior year.

 

The conflict in the Middle East has increased uncertainty and pricing across
polymer, energy and freight markets, but with relatively limited impact on
trading so far in the year to date. While the effect on the Group's April
earnings was limited by our stockholding, sustained elevated purchase prices
for polymer and other inputs are expected to increase input and distribution
costs later in the year, either directly or through wider supply chain
disruption. The Group is monitoring developments closely and is seeking to
mitigate these effects through temporary pricing adjustments, surcharges and
procurement actions where possible. At this stage, the full effect and
duration of the conflict, the extent to which price increases can be
recovered, and any impact of such increases on customer demand remain
uncertain.

 

We remain committed to delivering above-market profitable growth and our
target of 6-8% underlying operating margin**. Reported profit before tax in
2026 is expected to benefit materially from property disposals."

 

For further information, please contact:

 

 Robinson plc                                   www.robinsonpackaging.com (http://www.robinsonpackaging.com)
 John Melia, CEO                                Tel: 01246 389280

 Mike Cusick, CFO

 Cavendish Capital Markets Limited
 Ed Frisby / Seamus Fricker, Corporate Finance  Tel: 020 7220 0500

 Ella Bedford, Corporate Broking

 

About Robinson:

 

Being a purpose-led business, Robinson specialises in custom packaging with
technical and value-added solutions for food and consumer product hygiene,
safety, protection, and convenience; going above and beyond to create a
sustainable future for our people and our planet. Its main activity is in
injection and blow moulded plastic packaging and rigid paperboard luxury
packaging, operating within the Food, Homecare, Personal care, and Luxury gift
sectors. Robinson provides products and services to major players in the
fast-moving consumer goods market including Bakkavor, British Pepper &
Spice, McBride, Persan, Procter & Gamble and Unilever.

 

Headquartered in Chesterfield, UK, Robinson has plants in the UK, Poland and
Denmark. Robinson was formerly a family business with its origins dating back
to 1839, currently employing nearly 400 people. The Group has an ongoing
disposal programme for its substantial surplus property portfolio with
development potential.

 

* Operating profit before other items

** Operating profit margin before other items

 

The information contained within this announcement is deemed to constitute
inside information as stipulated under the retained EU law version of the
Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 (the "UK MAR") which is part of UK
law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. The information is
disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of the
UK MAR. Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside information is
now considered to be in the public domain.

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