TOP NEWS: Bunzl's 2020 performance boosted by sales of gloves, masks

(Alliance News) - Bunzl PLC on Monday reported robust revenue and earnings growth for 2020 as it ...

Alliance News 1 March, 2021 | 8:18AM
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(Alliance News) - Bunzl PLC on Monday reported robust revenue and earnings growth for 2020 as it delivered essential Covid-19 protective equipment, such as gloves and masks.

For 2020, revenue was GBP10.11 billion, up 8.4% from GBP9.33 billion in 2019 and in line with guidance. At constant exchange rates, revenue grew 9.4%.

Pretax profit was GBP555.7 million, up 23% from GBP453.3 million.

The company said it performed "very well" in 2020, noting that its businesses remained open throughout the pandemic as it was classified as a critical supplier.

"The substantial declines in profitability in the lower margin foodservice and retail sectors were more than offset by strong performances in the generally higher margin safety, cleaning & hygiene and healthcare sectors, primarily driven by significant sales volumes of Covid-19 related, mostly own brand, products such as gloves, masks and sanitisers," the firm said.

Bunzl raised its dividend for the year 5.5% to 54.1 pence from 51.3p paid out for 2019, as the company hailed its 28-year track record of consecutive annual dividend growth.

"Overall in 2021 we expect robust revenue growth over the prior year at constant exchange rates, after excluding larger Covid-19 related orders which we do not expect to repeat. We anticipate that the recovery in sales of other products, as restrictions ease, will broadly offset the decline of smaller Covid-19 related orders, with recent acquisitions making an increasing contribution to the group's performance. It is part of our proven and consistent strategy to use our strong balance sheet and cash flows to consolidate the fragmented markets we operate in," said Chief Executive Officer Frank van Zanten.

In addition, Bunzl said it has completed three further acquisitions. In January it bought Deliver Net, a healthcare distributor to care home groups in the UK with 2020 revenue of GBP20 million. In February, the company completed the acquisition of Disposable Discounter, an online distributor of food-service disposable products which generated GBP18 million of revenue in 2020.

Finally, Bunzl completed the acquisition of Pinnacle, a leading distributor of cleaning & hygiene in Saskatchewan, Canada, in February. Pinnacle generated GBP11 million of revenue in 2020.

Shares in Bunzl were down 1.8% at 2,196.18 pence in London on Monday.

By Lucy Heming; lucyheming@alliancenews.com

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Securities Mentioned in Article

Security Name Price Change (%) Morningstar
Rating
Bunzl PLC 3,034.00 GBX -1.75 -

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