BreadTalk Group, the F&B group, has posted a 42.8% rise in net profit to $11.1 million financial year ended 31 December 2009 (FY2009) compared to $7.8 million in FY08.

Group revenue rose 16.1% to $246.5 million supported by growth across all business segments.

In 4Q, group revenue grew 5.4% to $68.2 million supported by growth across the bakery (+1.7%), restaurant (+23.5%) and food court (+3.6%) business segments, and across Singapore (+17.2%), and Hong Kong (+11.3%) geographical segments. Profit before tax for 4Q09 fell 26.8% to $3.9 million compared to 4Q 2008.

Earnings per share on fully diluted basis for 4Q09 fell 24.7% to 1.40 cents compared to 1.86 cents in 4Q08.

For the FY09, earnings per share on fully diluted basis rose 42.9% to 4.73 cents compared to 3.31 cents in FY08.

Bakeries
Bakery sales, the largest revenue contributor, grew $1.2 million or 3.9% to $31.4 million in 4Q09 compared to 4Q08 spurred by expansion in Singapore, and Hong Kong, offset by deconsolidation of bakery sales from J Co. Donut a year ago.

Franchise revenue declined 10.5% to $4.9 million in 4Q09 mainly due to lower master franchise fee cushioned in part by higher royalty fee income as the number of franchised outlets increased by 41 to 182 outlets as of 31 December 2009 compared to a year ago.

Overall bakery business turned in an operating profit of $3.1 million in 4Q09, marginally lower than the $3.2 million recorded in 4Q08.

Restaurants
Revenue from restaurant business grew $2.2 million or 23.5% to $11.3 million in 4Q 2009, mainly contributed by two additional Din Tai Fung outlets at Jurong Point and 313@Somerset and the first Carls’ Junior outlet in Shanghai.

Operating profit from the restaurant business was lower at $0.4 million in 4Q09 compared to $0.6 million in 4Q08 mainly due to start-up losses from the Jarls’ Junior and Ramen Play restaurant businesses.

Food Courts
Food court revenue grew 3.6% to $20.6 million in 4Q09 mainly contributed by the newly opened food atriums at ION Orchard and 313@Somerset shopping malls in Singapore.

Food court operating profit fell 77.3% to $0.6 million in 4Q09 from $2.5 million in 4Q08 mainly due to underperformance of the PRC food court operations and start-up loss of the newly opened food court at 313@Somerset. The Hong Kong food court operations recorded higher operating profit in 4Q09.