Frutarom’s sales for the second quarter of 2009 totaled $106.7 million, dipping 5.5% in local currency terms compared to the second quarter of 2008, while its net profit for the period reached $10.1 million (2008: $12.0 million). Strengthening of the U.S. dollar and ongoing inventory reduction affected the company’s performance.
Meanwhile, expense reduction and efficiencies helped the company improve its net profit margin to 9.5%, compared to 9.1% in the same quarter last year. The three combined acquisitions Frutarom instituted in 2009—Oxford in the United Kingdom, FSI in the United States and the savory activities of Chr Hansen in Germany—contributed approximately $5.6 million to the sales in the second quarter, and $9.1 million in the first half of the year.
“We consider this a challenging and complex period an opportunity for further strengthening,” said Ori Yehudai, president and CEO, Frutarom. “We are convinced that we will be able to achieve our goals and double Frutarom's turnover again in the next four years, so that it will reach $1 billion by 2012.”