Amsterdam, July 31 - Dutch food group CSM NV is expected to report that operating profit fell by a quarter in the first six months of 2009, as it copes with volatile materials prices and reduced spending on baking supplies.
CSM, which sells baking supplies to bakeries, cafes and restaurants, is expected to post earnings before interest, taxes and amortisation of 52 million euros, down 24.6 percent from a year earlier, adjusted for one-offs and other charges, according to the average in a Reuters poll of 8 analysts.
Sales are projected to rise slight, by 3.4 percent to 1.29 billion euros in the first half, according to the poll.