Medellin-based multinational foods giant Nutresa reported October 26 that its third quarter (3Q) 2018 net profit rose 19% year-on-year, to COP$386 billion (US$121 million).

“This growth is the result of a balanced equation that includes rising sales, efficiency in purchase of basic materials, productivity programs, lower growth in operating expenses and a continuing decline in financing costs,” according to Nutresa.

Consolidated sales of Grupo Nutresa grew by 3.4% year-on-year, hitting COP$6.6 trillion (US$2.07 billion) while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose 5.1% year-on-year, to COP$841 billion (US$264 million). EBITDA margin was steady at 12.7%.

Sales in Colombia rose 4.1%, to COP$4.2 trillion (USS$1.3 billion) thanks to a volume hike of 2.3% plus a price hike of 1.5%. Sales abroad also rose 4%, to US$829.8 million.

“Innovation continues to be an important driver of growth for the Group -- and sales resulting from this concept represent 22.1% of the total,” according to Nutresa.

Gross profit rose 5.2% year-on-year, to COP$3.0 trillion (US$943 million), “the result of the increase in sales accompanied by a strategy to improve productivity,” according to the company.

“Operating income amounted to COP$634 billion [US$199 million], equivalent to an operating margin of 9.6%, and representing an improvement of 4.7% compared to the same period of 2017. This result is a consequence of the efficiencies in sales, administration and production during the period.

Net post-operative expenses fell 46% year-on-year, to COP$100.7 billion (US$31.6 million), “mainly explained by the significant reduction in financial expenses, resulting from lower indebtedness, and better interest rates in the main markets where the Group operates,” according to Nutresa.