Higher welfare pork provider Pilgrim’s Europe has returned to profitable growth for the full year as the company gets “back on track” to pre-Covid levels.

In the group’s first results since merging the Pilgrim’s UK, Moy Park and Pilgrim’s Food Masters businesses, Pilgrim’s Europe saw profits after tax jump to £106m, up from £27m in 2022, while combined sales increased by 5.5% to £4.2bn in the full 2023 year.

The food business said its positive results were supported by easing inflation in the UK and Europe and wage growth, while shoppers increasingly traded into chicken, pork sausage and lamb relative to other categories.

In the first half of 2024, the group reported profits after tax of £44m, an increase of £17m compared to the same period last year, which it said was driven by improved consumer sentiment.

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Pilgrim’s said that its £400m branded European portfolio continues to perform “particularly well” as net sales grew over 10% in 2023 compared to the full year 2022.

Richmond and Rollover brand sales increased over 13% and 31% respectively in the period, with branded growth rising a further 6% in the first half of 2024 as Fridge Raiders and Richmond grew faster than category averages.

Pilgrim’s Europe president Ivan Siqueira said: “Since bringing together Pilgrim’s UK, Moy Park and Pilgrim’s Food Masters under the Pilgrim’s Europe structure we have taken steps to drive operational excellence to become a more customer-focused, efficient organization.

“These moves have reinforced our ability to return to profitable growth in partnership with key customers. We continue to identify ways to increase our speed to market, further simplify our operations and deliver best-in-class customer service and sustainable growth.”