6:00am Thursday 2nd May 2013
By Steven Hugill
A FOOD ingredient company, which last year closed a North-East factory creating more than 300 job losses, says it has delivered strong trading results, despite the impact of the horsemeat scandal on the food industry.
Kerry Foods, which was Durham City's third largest private sector employer, closed down its Gilesgate Moor processing plant in July, with some workers moving to its Hartlepool factory.
The Ireland-based firm, which is behind the Wall's sausages and Cheestrings brands, says demand for its consumer goods in the UK and Ireland was stable, though confidence in the frozen meals sector had been damaged by the horsemeat controversy.
It said Wall's had continued to grow in the savoury pastry industry, with its Dairygold and LowLow spreads maintaining their strong position.
A report said net debt stood at £1.1bn, with its ingredients and flavours arm increasing by more than three per cent, outpacing the sluggish market.
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