Strength in the consumer foods segment helped drive a 19% gain in the overall income of ConAgra Foods, Inc. in the third quarter.

For the quarter ended February 28, the company posted income of US$229.6 million, equal to 51 cents per share on the common stock, which compared with income of US$193.2 million, or 43 cents per share, during the same quarter of the previous year. Sales for the quarter were US$3,096.8 million, down slightly from US$3,125 million during the same quarter of the previous year.

Operating profit for the consumer foods segment was US$306.3 million, up 25% from US$244.6 million during the same quarter of the previous year. Sales in the segment were US$2,034.4 million, up 2% from US$1,990.8 million during the same quarter of the previous year.

The commercial foods segment had an operating profit of US$148.9 million, up 6% from US$141.1 million during the same quarter of the previous year. The segment had sales of US$1,062.4 million, down 6% from US$1,134.2 million during the same quarter of the previous year.

For the nine months ended February 28, overall income totalled US$635.2 million, or US$1.43 per share, down 21% from US$803.7 million, or US$1.77 per share, during the same period of the previous year. Sales during the nine months were US$9,230.8 million, down 2% from US$9,433.2 million during the same period of the previous year.