Associated British Foods PLC (ABF.LN), the U.K.-based food, ingredients and retail group, Tuesday said it expects "substantial" earnings growth this year as it posted a rise in first-half profit on higher revenue.

MAIN FACTS:

-Net profit for the 24 weeks ended March 3 up to GBP250 million (1H 2011: 241 million).

-Operating profit before exceptionals up 6% to GBP412 million (1H 2011: GBP390 million).

-Pretax profit before exceptionals up 3% to GBP363 million (1H 2011: GBP354 million).

-Revenue up 11% to GBP5.77 billion (1H 2011: GBP5.21 billion).

-Sugar revenue up to GBP1.2 billion (1H 2011: GBP1.02 billion). Agriculture revenue up to GBP597 million (1H 2011: GBP507 million). Grocery sales up to GBP1.81 billion (1H 2011: GBP1.74 billion). Ingredients revenue up to GBP538 million (1H 2011: GBP527 million).

-Primark revenue up to GBP1.62 billion (1H 2011: GBP1.41 billion).

-Sugar full-year profit expected well ahead year-on-year.

-Declares an interim dividend of 8.5 pence, up 8% year-on-year.

-CEO: "The group delivered good growth in revenue and profit. Sugar and Primark both performed strongly, demonstrating continuing momentum. We expect substantial growth in both adjusted operating profit and adjusted earnings per share for the group for the full year."

-Shares closed Monday at 1215 pence, valuing the company at GBP9.62 billion.

 
-By Simon Zekaria, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 207 842-9410; simon.zekaria@dowjones.com

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