Zespri annual profit rises 38%, lifts grower payment

Zespri annual profit rises 38%, lifts grower payment
Rebecca Howard
By Rebecca Howard May 23 (BusinessDesk) - Zespri Group reported a 38 percent lift in full-year profit and tripled its dividend after revenue growth was driven by the release of 400 hectares of licences for the profitable SunGold variety in 2017. Net profit for the season ended March 31 was $101.8 million with global kiwifruit sales for the year up 6 percent at $2.39 billion, the Tauranga-based business said in a statement. Total revenue, which includes the license income, was $2.51 billion.  Zespri said the total dividend returned to s...