Company Information for Zetar plc

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Company Statement

Zetar Plc listed on AIM on 6th January 2005 with a strategy to acquire, or make investments in, companies or businesses engaged primarily in the confectionery and snack foods or related markets. 

Zetar has established two divisions since it listed, the ‘Confectionery’ and ‘Natural & Premium Snacks’ divisions.  Zetar continues to pursue opportunities to create substantial shareholder value by the acquisition and integration of other companies within these markets and to grow its business organically.

Strategy

Zetar’s aim is to create a Group of confectionery and snack foods or related businesses, based primarily in the UK with operations in Europe. We aim to deliver value to our shareholders through the organic growth of Group businesses enhanced by the sharing of Group resources, and by making further acquisitions. Our mission is to achieve above sector average annual increases in earnings per share.

We will continue to concentrate on companies that, amongst other considerations, focus on healthier options, quality products, innovation and service at competitive prices.

Company Diagram

Kinnerton product is increasingly available in most major retailers throughout the year and the re-assurance offered by our nut free and NAFNAC (no artificial flavours and no artificial colours) capabilities is becoming a recognised advantage of the brand.

Current Operations

Confectionary

Zetar acquired its principal business, Kinnerton Group Limited, a leading UK manufacturer of novelty and niche chocolate confectionery, on 13th April 2005 for £32.2 million.  This established the ‘Confectionery’ division.  Kinnerton sells its own brand character confectionery, ie. The Simpsons and Barbie, and private label chocolate products to UK and Australian grocery retailers.  Kinnerton was the first confectioner in the world to offer chocolate manufactured in a nut free zone and is committed to developing ‘considerate confectionery’ through offering products that are free from or low in artificial colourings and flavourings.
 
Kinnerton’s first year under the Zetar umbrella has proved extremely successful. Traditionally, a material proportion of its turnover is invoiced at Christmas and Easter and for 2005/2006 the business experienced a particularly good Easter period with many of its customers.

In fact, Kinnerton’s Easter 2006 season was the most successful ever in terms of sales performance, with Kinnerton being the fourth largest Easter Egg manufacturer in the UK.
 
Under-pinning the Kinnerton organisation has always been its use of Character Licences as a means of creating ‘instant brand’ recognition for its product range. Management aim to have a balanced portfolio of classic, iconic characters such as the Simpsons, Barbie and Thomas the Tank Engine, alongside newer characters which take advantage of film launches etc.
Examples of this in the past year have been Ice Age 2, Madagascar, Batman and Wallace & Grommit.  Kinnerton has signed Pirates of the Carribean 2, Over the Hedge (from the Dreamworks/Shrek studio) and a medley of the successful characters from the Pixar/Disney Catalogue.

Kinnerton has also been working on developing one of the new pre-school properties, Fifi and the Flowertots as well as introducing Winnie the Pooh and Disney/Pixar characters into All Year Round products.
 
Kinnerton product is increasingly available in most major retailers throughout the year and the re-assurance offered by our nut free and NAFNAC (no artificial flavours and no artificial colours) capabilities is becoming a recognised advantage of the brand.

Kinnerton’s BRC Global Standard (Grade A) accredited Nut Free chocolate factory has added considerably to the attraction of our products that we can offer with the assurance of having been manufactured in a “Nut Free Zone”. This has helped our sales to many of the country’s foremost retailers grow in excess of 8% over last year.

Nuts and Allergies Kinnerton has been at the forefront of Good Manufacturing Practice with regards to addressing allergy issues. Our Fakenham facility was the first factory in the world to partition into a Nut and Nut Free side.

Natural & Premium Snacks

The Natural & Premium Snacks division was recently established as the second division of the Zetar Group.

It comprises:

Readifoods which was acquired on 30th of March 2006
Humdinger which was acquired on 18th of July 2006

Zetar acquired Readifoods Limited, a UK specialist in the sourcing, preparation and supply of premium quality dried fruit and nut blends, on 30th March 2006 for up to £4.2 million.  This established the 'Natural snacking' division which will focus on products which provide the consumer with a healthier snacking option.

Established in 1985, Readifoods specialises in the sourcing, preparation and supply of premium quality dried nut and fruit blends. It has distribution in the UK market at both national and local retailer and distributor level and is a major supplier to one of the UK’s leading supermarkets. Readifoods has a modern 27,000 sq ft processing and packing facility near Sleaford, Lincolnshire and approximately 40 employees.

On 18 July 2006 Zetar completed the acquisition of Humdinger, an importer, processor, packer and distributor of ambient food products, predominantly premium quality and organic dried fruit and related products. Humdinger was set up in 2001 by its current management team, who will all continue in their current roles.

Board of Directors and Key Management

David Williams	Non-Executive Chairman
Ian Blackburn	Chief Executive
Dale Mullins	Finance Director
Clive Beecham	Group Managing Director
Marion Sears	Non-Executive Director

Company Address 10th Floor Bucklersbury House 3 Queen Victoria Street London, London, United Kingdom EC4N 8EL Telephone: +44 (0)20 7831 3113 Facsimile: +44 (0)20 7831 3113 Email: info[at]zetarplc.com Website: http://www.zetarplc.com

Capital The Company has 10,739,908 Ordinary Shares in issue

Annual General Meeting 26 September 2007.

Nominated Brokers Altium Capital Limited 30 St James’s Square London SW1Y 4AL

Nominated Advisors Altium Capital Limited 30 St James’s Square London SW1Y 4AL

Most Recent Statement

25/09/07 - Result of AGM
25/09/07 - AGM Statement
30/07/07 - Voting Rights and Capital
29/07/07 - Grant of share awards
26/07/07 - EBT Purchase
23/07/07 - Final Results