Oceana reported a 13.5 per cent jump in headline earnings per share with growth driven by record earnings from its US Daybrook operations, margin expansion at Lucky Star foods and a strong turnaround in the Hake operations. The group presented a mixed outlook to investors. It sees headwinds on the cards for fishmeal and fish oil prices but an improved South African economic outlook that will support growth. CNBC Africa is joined by Neville Brink, CEO, Oceana for more.
Oceana reported a 13.5% jump in headline earnings per share with growth driven by record earnings from its US Daybrook operations, margin expansion at Lucky Star foods and a strong turnaround in the Hake operations. The group presented a mixed outlook to investors. It sees headwinds on the cards for fishmeal and fish oil prices but an improved South African economic outlook that will support growth. I'm joined by Neville Brink, CEO, Oceana for more. Neville, thanks so much for your time. Perhaps let's start off with some of the good news, just in terms of the record performance that you did present to shareholders coming out of the US and also the margin expansion at Lucky Star. As you paint a picture for us of the year that was, just talk to us about the sustainability of some of these performances in the year ahead. Okay, well let me start off with Lucky Star because that's homegrown and it's part of the lifestyle of South Africans and Lucky Star is an iconic brand that was voted the number one brand in the country this year. We've spent a lot of time looking at that business, growing that business. In fact, we've expanded the brand outside of pure canned fish. Obviously, consumers in South Africa are under pressure and we know that but affordable protein is a key component of their basket and certainly we've seen that volume come through very strongly. We've also introduced some upgrades in the factories which have managed to translate into increased margins. As you saw, the operating margins went from a mid seven and a half percent to a mid nine and a half percent. So very pleasing performance both from an operating profit growth and in terms of a margin growth. So good strong growth coming out of that brand. On the Daybrook side, which is our US business operating out of the Gulf of Mexico, we had reasonable catches but we really took advantage of an oil price increase that went up over 50 percent and that oil is supplied to the salmon farmers that are growing salmon for the world market mainly out of the Scandinavian countries and they need high omega oils for their production. It's healthy for the fish and it promotes growth. So we've been fortunate in the sense that we manage our stock very prudently and carried enough stock into this year to supply into that market. So it was a very strong growth both in demand and in price and which drove the record profits we saw out of Daybrook. The hake business also had a strong growth. Hake is a white fish that is sold mainly to the Western Europe and there's strong demand for wild captured sustainable seafood and that's where the space that hake plays in. So very good and pleasing performance from our hake business. And so on the iconicness of the Lucky Star brand resonating very well with most South Africans, investors and even your man on the street as it were in Main Street as it were, it did unfortunately get embroiled into a case regarding the counterfeit poachers as it were. Recent raids as a company you have distanced yourself from this but I just want to know if you have seen or anticipate seeing any negative impact as a result of this. I mean I do note the efficiencies that you alluded to with your new factory that resulted in the margin expansion at Lucky Star. I also note a bit of slippage in terms of sales volumes in the period ahead and I wonder if there is any risk of even further slippage as a result of the association with the counterfeit poachers. No, first of all just to put the record clear that it was not Lucky Star product. This was a product that was imported by Woolworths from a Moroccan supplier. It didn't do that well on their shelves and they pulled the product off their shelves, stripped the label and were disposing of the product when scrupulous unregistered traders got hold of the sum of this product. Nothing to do with Lucky Star and produced some counterfeit labels and put it onto the product and I give 100% kudos to the police who then raided that store and confiscated all the machinery and labeling machinery. So it had nothing to do with Lucky Star and we certainly haven't seen any effect in the market. In fact our volumes in the first two months of this financial year, remember our year closed September, our volumes in October and November are record numbers. We currently are 10% up on last year. So no, our consumer knows Lucky Star and unfortunately it affected us in terms of some negative press but we went out and told the market that it was not Lucky Star product. So no, I'm not concerned and we're very comfortable. We've got the controls in measure that would resist anything like that. So no, not a concern for us. Fantastic, absolutely good to know. Are you also comfortable regarding the outlook of your US operations? I do see that this time around the operations contributing some 72.2% to operating profit but I just would like to know in the medium term with the entrance of the new administration, the press are dubbing it Trump 2.0, is there any material risk or any concern that you have of your US operations under a Trump 2.0 presidency, sir? No, I don't think we're affected by political office there, whether it be a Republican or Democratic government. We're a registered American company. We've got an American partner in our fishing business. So no, we're not concerned about any potential. In fact, when Trump initially came in, there was a positive effect in our business because he reduced corporate tax rate. There is talk that he may consider reducing corporate tax rate even further, so we wait and see. But as far as operating there, no, I think we're a great business and we conform to all American legal requirements. So not concerned. Going forward, broadly in terms of our American business, there will, because the record price of oil has come down, we will be affected. But long term, we supply into the aquaculture and pet food industry. And long term, the growth in that particular aquaculture sector will outstrip supply. So over the longer term, we see pricing continue to increase. We have the ability to catch more fish there because the effort is based on time, not in terms of quota. So we have some strong, in the short term, we may see some drop off, but in the long term, we're still very positive about that business. All right. And just in closing, are you feeling more confident about your South African operations right now than you were this time last year? And particularly under the new government of national unity and also under a more favourable economic backdrop where we have seen inflation come down, we've seen interest rates also following, although not as fast as some people would have liked, but cases that do put a consumer in a better standing. Very much so. And the proof is in the pudding. We've invested just over 650 million in our South African operations on the West Coast and in our factories and our vessels, because we believe in this country. The consumer sentiment, both from a business point of view and from a consumer point of view, is very positive at the moment. Hence the lucky star sales that we've seen. And we believe in this country. So we are investing heavily in upgrading our machinery and upgrading our production facilities to take advantage of that. So very much so. All right. Great to know, sir. We'll leave it there for now, but thanks so much for your time this afternoon, Neville Brinker, the CEO at Oceana.
Theme: Oceana Reports Record Earnings and Strong Outlook for Future Growth
Oceana, a leading fishing company, recently announced a 13.5% increase in headline earnings per share, driven by record earnings from its US Daybrook operations, margin expansion at Lucky Star foods, and a notable turnaround in the Hake operations. Neville Brink, CEO of Oceana, shared insights on the company's performance and outlook in a recent interview with CNBC Africa. Brink highlighted the success of Lucky Star, a beloved brand in South Africa. He expressed pride in the brand's growth and diversification beyond canned fish products. The company's focus on providing affordable protein for consumers led to a significant increase in volume and improved operating margins. The innovative upgrades in the factories also played a crucial role in boosting profitability. On the US Daybrook operations, Brink credited the surge in profits to a spike in oil prices, which benefitted salmon farmers who require high omega oils for fish growth. Oceana's prudent stock management and robust market demand contributed to the outstanding performance of the US segment. Additionally, the hake business experienced strong growth, catering to the rising demand for sustainable seafood in Western Europe. While addressing recent concerns about counterfeit poachers falsely associated with Lucky Star products, Brink clarified that the counterfeit issue did not impact the company's market standing. He reassured stakeholders that stringent controls and consumer trust shielded Lucky Star from any negative repercussions. In fact, Oceana reported record sales volumes in the subsequent financial year, showcasing consumer loyalty and confidence in the brand. Regarding the outlook for US operations under the new administration, Brink remained optimistic, emphasizing that political shifts in the US did not pose significant risks to Oceana's operations. The company's compliance with US legal requirements and strategic positioning in the aquaculture industry mitigated any potential concerns. Despite short-term challenges due to fluctuating oil prices, Oceana's long-term growth prospects in the aquaculture and pet food sector remained strong. Brink expressed unwavering confidence in Oceana's South African operations, signaling a positive sentiment towards the country's economic outlook. With substantial investments in local infrastructure and production facilities, Oceana demonstrated its commitment to leveraging the favorable business environment and consumer sentiment in South Africa. The CEO affirmed the company's belief in the country's growth potential and affirmed their dedication to capitalizing on emerging opportunities. In conclusion, Oceana's remarkable financial performance, coupled with its strategic investments and optimistic outlook, position the company for sustained growth and success in the evolving global seafood market.
"The consumer sentiment, both from a business point of view and from a consumer point of view, is very positive at the moment. Hence the lucky star sales that we've seen."
['Oceana', 'earnings', 'Lucky Star', 'Hake', 'US operations', 'growth', 'South Africa', 'market outlook']