Robinson Regulatory News (RBN)

ROBINSON PLC

TRADING STATEMENT

Robinson plc ("Robinson" or "the Group"; stock code: RBN), the custom manufacturer of plastic and paperboard packaging, today issues the following trading statement, prior to the announcement of its preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2009, which are scheduled to be released on 26 March 2010.

Revenues, at £23.8m for the year, were 8% lower than in the previous year but in line with management's expectations. However, importantly the second half results, where revenues were just 2% lower than in the corresponding period in 2008, have been a substantial improvement over the first half of the year when revenues were 15% lower than in the same period of 2008. The lower revenues were largely a result of sudden destocking in the toiletries sector which occurred during the second quarter. In addition, the North American paperboard business suffered from its exposure to the US market where sales through duty free outlets were particularly badly hit. The plastics business in Poland continued to show positive growth.

About Robinson

Based in Chesterfield, with additional manufacturing facilities in Kirkby-in-Ashfield and Stanton Hill (Nottinghamshire) in Toronto (Canada) and in Lodz (Poland), Robinson currently employs around 400 people. It was formerly a family business, with its origins dating back some 165 years. Today the Group's main activities are in the manufacture and sale of injection moulded plastic and rigid paperboard packaging. Robinson operates primarily within the food, drink, confectionery, cosmetic and toiletry sectors, providing niche or custom manufacture to major players in the fast moving consumer goods market, such as Proctor & Gamble, Nestlé, Kraft, Cadbury, Northern Foods, Masterfoods, Bakkavor, Unilever, Avon and Chivas. The Group also has a substantial property portfolio with significant development potential.

For further information, please contact: 

Robinson plc, Chesterfield, S40 2PH, UK. Registered number 39811 (England) AIM code "RBN"

ENDS