Meat-packaging company Hilton Food Group Plc posted a 15.8% increase in fiscal year pretax profit, fueled by an increase in volumes, and expected to achieve further progress in 2010.

The firm, which posted 14% volume growth in 2009, said it started the new financial year in line with its expectations.

Hilton Food raised its full-year dividend by 15% to GBP0.09 (US$0.14) per share.

The company, which supplies to ten countries in Europe, has expanded its business in Latvia and Lithuania, where sales are growing strong.

Hilton Food expects production from a new facility, which will supply retail packaged fresh meat to Danish food retailer Coop Danmark, to start in the second quarter of 2011.

For the year ended January 3, the firm posted pretax profit of GBP20.1 million (US$30.29 million), up from GBP17.3 million (US$26.36 million) in the previous year.

Its overall revenue rose 13.2% to GBP826.1 million (US$1,259 million), according to the company.