	rowntree reports pretax profit at mln stg rowntree mackintosh plc rwnt l announced it made a pretax profit of mln stg in the weeks ending january compared with mln stg in the previous year turnover was up to billion stg from billion a final dividend of p was proposed after a final p last year ings per share rose to p from p the results were broadly in line with market expectations leaving shares at p in early trading up one pence from yesterday s close but slightly off pre announcement opening levels profit on ordinary activities after tax was mln stg up from the previous year s mln the u k remained rowntree s largest centre for trading profits accounting for mln stg up from mln in profit from its second largest geographical area north america slipped to mln stg from mln north american profits were affected by the fall of the value of the dollar operations in continental europe made mln stg in trading profit up from mln with mln stg made in australasia up from mln and mln stg from the rest of the world against mln in the previous year extraordinary items amounted to a mln debit after a mln debit previously a company spokesman said this represented additional provisions for the cost of rationalisation plans announced in earlier years rowntree expects north american operations will this year ahead of company expectations be of the same order as those from the u k and the rest of europe combined the statement said a spokesman said no specific figures had been forecast acquisitions will continue to be sought worldwide including further moves in the speciality retailing business which rowntree first entered in the statement said rising profit from europe this year was forecast by chairman kenneth dixon in a statement he added the performance of seven businesses bought last year was encouraging the u k confectionery side gained market share and increased trading margins the sun pat british grocery concern increased profit and rowntree s small health food business holgates raised ings fold the statement said offsetting factors included currency movements which cost the company nearly mln stg sales tax hurt canadian profits on confectionery operations and the company faced strong competition in the u k snack and mid east export markets reuter 
