Hilton Foods strikes cautious tone on outlook, shares slide

(Sharecast News) - Hilton Foods slumped on Thursday as it struck a cautious tone on the outlook, warning that US stock write-offs would be "significantly higher" than indicated and that inflationary pressures in beef and white fish were set to continue. In an update for the year to 28 December 2025, the company said adjusted pre-tax profit was set to be within the previously-provided guidance of £72m to £75m.

It highlighted "good" Christmas trading across red meat and salmon categories, as expected. It also said that continued strength in long-term customer partnerships led to successful contract renewals in core retail meat partnerships in the Netherlands and Denmark.

Hilton said the Foppen smoked salmon business continues to supply fish to the US market from its Netherlands facility, following ongoing restrictions imposed at its facility in Greece.

However, it also said that US stock write-offs are now expected to be significantly higher than previously indicated, with the costs set to be treated as a non-underlying item.

Hilton said it expects the restrictions on smoked salmon exports from Greece to the US to remain for at least the first half of this year and for the inflationary pressures in beef and white fish to continue.

"While we are actively working on opportunities for business transformation and profit improvement against this backdrop, we remain cautious on the outlook for the year. We now expect 2026 adjusted profit before tax to be within the range of £60m to £65m," it said.

At 0830 GMT, the shares were down 6.4% at 481.16p.