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Universal Robina Corp. (URC), the food and beverage unit of the Gokongwei Group, reported an 11-percent drop in net income to ₱6.7 billion in the first half of 2025 mainly due to an impairment charge related to the discontinuation of part of its packaging segment.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), the firm said that, excluding this one-time charge, core net income grew three percent to ₱6.9 billion.
URC posted sales of ₱85.9 billion for the first half of 2025, six-percent higher than the first half of 2024, as top-line growth momentum was sustained across its key business units.
“We are encouraged by our first-half 2025 results, notwithstanding various external challenges. The strong volume-driven growth across our branded consumer food business thus far is a testament to the strength of our portfolio,” said URC President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Irwin Lee.
He added that, “We expect to sustain this momentum for the balance of the year as we continue to provide the best value to our customers and generate healthy returns for our shareholders.”
Total branded consumer foods (BCF) revenues grew five percent from the same period last year. As of the first half of 2025, a majority of the Philippine branded portfolio is growing in line or above total category growth. Meanwhile, the commodities segment grew 16 percent.
Total operating income for the period was flat year-on-year at ₱9.4 billion, with stable operating margin for the total BCF segment.
Higher input cost, particularly coffee, weighed on BCF Philippines, but this was mitigated by cost management programs, as well as improving scale at URC International.
URC declared a ₱2.20 per share cash dividend to stockholders on record as of Sept. 5, 2025. This brings the total cash dividend to ₱4.20 a share for 2025, 11-percent higher than the prior year and translating to a payout of almost 80 percent of the prior year’s core net income.
Sales for total BCF grew five percent to ₱57.8 billion. BCF Philippines sustained its momentum, growing sales by five percent year-on-year to ₱39.6 billion.
Snacks and ready-to-drink beverages delivered double-digit growth, while challenges in coffee and noodles persist amid stiff competition.
Meanwhile, URC International grew sales by seven percent year-on-year to ₱18.2 billion as the company continued to drive momentum with Munchy’s, widening share leadership in Malaysia and growing rapidly in Indonesia.
The agro-industrial and commodities group recorded ₱21.7 billion in sales for the first half, higher by 16 percent against the same period last year.
Sugar and renewables (SURE) saw higher volumes on the back of an extended milling season, while animal nutrition and health (ANH) was weighed by the secondary effects of African swine fever (ASF).
