• Flexibles: growth in challenging market
    Flexibles: growth in challenging market
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Revenue at Pro-Pac Packaging rose by five per cent in the quarter to December 31, driven by new flexibles customers, in what the company said was a challenging market.

Sales rose to $81.1m for the quarter, up from $77.8m in the previous three months, with flexibles up to $63.9m from $60.6m, while specialty packaging was steady at $17.2m.

Pro-Pac said the trading environment “continues to be challenging” as the cost of living crisis impacts on discretionary spending for consumers.

Cashflow at Pro-Pac for the quarter was an outflow of $2m, predominantly due to a seasonal increase in net working capital for the quarter. The company’s payments included $2.5m for a new printing press, with installation completed this month; it will be operational by the end of this quarter.

Pro-Pac has $2.5m in cash on hand, and of its $39m in financing facilities, it has unused credit facilities of $16.8m, including $5.6m from a government grant.

During the quarter it made $3.4m in payments to related parties, including $385,000 to directors and execs, and $3m to Visy “on arm’s length terms”.

Food & Drink Business

The federal government is conducting a review of the Horticulture Code of Conduct, following several difficult years for farmers and growers, with rapidly rising levels of dissatisfaction.

The federal government has committed to developing an Industry Code of Practice for labelling plant-based protein products, supported by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) research and led by the Alternative Proteins Council (APC).

Consumers may soon see products containing cocoa-free chocolate appearing on shelves, as confectionery manufacturers look to manage increased volatility in the price and supply of cocoa beans, according to research from agribusiness banking specialist, Rabobank.