Convenience food manufacturer Greencore has reported steady sales growth for the first quarter of its 2020 financial year, with the recent acquisition of Freshtime boosting sales.

Despite what it called a “challenging trading environment” in the UK market right now, Greencore reported sales growth of 1.8% for the 13 weeks up to the end of December 2019, as turnover grew to just under £368m (€435m). On a like-for-like basis, sales grew by less than 1%.

Excluding the Freshtime acquisition, Greencore’s food-to-go business grew by just 0.5% on a like-for-like basis

The growth in first quarter sales was driven by a strong performance in its food-to-go division, where sales grew 4.5% to £241m (€285m) thanks to Greencore’s recent acquisition of Freshtime, a UK-based food company that specialises in food-to-go salads, chilled snacks and prepared produce.

Excluding the Freshtime acquisition, Greencore’s food-to-go business grew by just 0.5% on a like-for-like basis.

Greencore’s convenience food division recorded a 3% decline in sales to £127m (€150m) for the quarter, which was mainly due to the company exiting a ready meals business. Greencore reaffirmed its outlook for 2020 to be a year of profitable growth.