THE north's biggest family-owned food company SHS Group has reported a drop in its turnover and profit during 2014.
But the Belfast-based firm - which owns a variety of food and drink brands including WKD alcopops, Shloer and Merrydown cider - remains one of the most successful in Europe in the fast-moving consumer goods sector.
SHS, which is owned by the Salters and Sloan families, reported operating profits of £16.9 million last year - down on 2013 when it made £19.6m.
Profit after tax came in at £11.3m against £11.9 a year earlier.
The group's turnover also fell back from £393.3m to £374m, although the directors of the firm said the annual performance had been "satisfactory".
The average number of staff employed during 2014 was 758, which was an increase on the previous year's total of 737.
SHS boosted its administrative staff numbers from 154 to 234 over the 12 months, but its production and distribution worker numbers dipped from 583 to 524.
The company's overall wages and salaries bill over the period rose from £27.4m to £28.6m, while payments to directors remained steady at £1.46m.
The highest-paid director - who isn't named in the company report - saw his package rise slightly from £743,100 to £765,465.
Regularly ranked as one of the north's most profitable companies, SHS was founded by Joe Sloan and the late Geoffrey Salters in 1975.
It began as an agent for Colgate/Palmolive and now has four divisions, with a portfolio of products ranging from rice pudding and cider to spring water and condiments.
It trades primarily in Ireland and Britain and is still controlled by the founders' families.
The company's greatest success to date is WKD, which it describes as a "premium packaged spirit".
Sales of the alcopop, launched in the mid-1990s, helped the group build a substantial war chest, enabling it to make a number of acquisitions. In 2010 SHS bought a majority shareholding in Gloucester-based Bottlegreen Holdings Limited for a reported £25m.
SHS remains one of the north's biggest indigenous tax-paying companies (in 2014 it stumped up £3.3m in corporation tax).
Operating from headquarters in the Belfast harbour estate, SHS's other premium brands include Bottlegreen cordial, Farmlea and Maguire & Paterson matches, while it distributes a portfolio of well known brands such as Jordans, Ryvita, Nivea, Finish and Mars Drinks.
SHS Group is also the largest private label supplier of herbs and spices & wet condiments and a major supplier of milk puddings in Britain.
