At the close of its fiscal year just ended, Atria Plc reports net sales across its businesses totaling more than EUR1.75 billion (US$1.84 billion). This figure for the financial year ended December 31, 2024 (FY2024) represents an increase of EUR2.7 million compared to the previous 12 months.
The Finland-based food company also has businesses in Sweden, Denmark and Estonia.
The firm reports that its recent acquisition of Swedish convenience food company Gooh boosted sales by Atria Sweden by almost EUR30 million to EUR360.2 million. For Atria Denmark & Estonia, net sales increased by EUR3.7 million year-on-year to EUR125.9 million. However, reduced feed sales and a drop in food service sales reduced overall net sales by Atria Finland by 2.3% to just under EUR1.296 billion.
For the year just ended, consolidated and adjusted Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT) for the group was EUR65.4 million — the highest level achieved by the company — or 3.7% of net sales. These figures represent improvements from the previous 12 months, when they were reported at EUR49.6 million, and 2.8%, respectively. According to Atria, all business areas registered year-on-year improvements in these metrics.
For Atria Finland, adjusted EBIT increased by EUR4.3 million compared with FY2023 to EUR60.4 million. The firm notes that in the comparable period, this measure had been constrained by extra costs relating to the commission of a new poultry processing plant in Nurmo. During the past 12 months, this facility has been fully commissioned, and all production from the company’s facility at Sahalahti has now been transferred to Nurmi.
Adjusted EBIT for Atria Sweden increased by EUR10.2 million in FY2024. This improvement is attributed by the company, at least in part, to heavy additional costs incurred as the result of the closure of its plant in Malmo during FY2023. For Denmark & Estonia, adjusted EBIT for the year just ended amounted to EUR5.3 million — a year-on-year increase of EUR2.3 million.
Highlights for October-December quarter
Overall, Atria’s net sales in the fourth quarter increased by EUR7.2 million to EUR445.3 million. While net sales by the Swedish operations rose by EUR8.8 million year-on-year, lower feed sales reduced net sales for the business in Finland.
At EUR13.2 million, consolidated EBIT for the group was 40% higher than in the same period of FY2023. As a result, consolidated EBIT as a percentage of net sales improved from 2.1% in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 3% for October-December of 2024.
Among the highlights of the quarter for Atria Plc cited by CEO Kai Gyllström was the shipment of the company’s first exports of chicken meat to China.
These began at the end of December, following authorization of the trade by the Chinese authority in the autumn/fall. The company is shipping several containers of pork and chicken to China each week, he said.
Ongoing commitment to environmental goals
Reporting the FY2024 results, Gyllström reiterated that Atria Plc’s most important environmental goal is to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions throughout the chain. Specific goals by 2030 include a 42% reduction in GHG emissions (compared with 2020 levels), and a 20% reduction target for Scope 3 emissions.
The CEO reported that in 2024, the group promoted several initiatives to reduce emissions. These included collaboration on a biogas plant project and the transition to electric boilers for heat generation at Atria’s poultry plant in Nurmi.
Furthermore, he said, work continued in all business areas regarding safety at work and employee wellbeing. Progress has been reflected in improved results from workforce surveys.
More on Atria Group
Annual production of 45 million birds puts Atria Group among the leading poultry meat producers in Europe, according to WATTPoultry.com’s Top Poultry Companies survey for 2023. Its key products are based on chicken.
Based in Finland, Atria is one of that nation’s leading meat producers, with operations in both the pork and poultry sectors. It also has businesses in Sweden, Denmark, and Estonia.
Earlier this month, the company received recognition for its progress towards climate goals. This followed an announcement in September of last year that Atria was planning Finland’s first liquefied biogas plant.
Previously in 2024, Atria Plc acquired Gooh, a convenience food manufacturer based in Sweden.
