According to regulatory filings released Friday, revenue climbed 7.2 percent from a year earlier to 850.4 billion won ($566.6 million) in the January to March period, while operating profit surged 68.9 percent to 19 billion won.
The company said that its earnings jump was driven by tighter cost controls at home and a sharp improvement in profitability abroad, where the firm's U.S. arm booked its third consecutive quarterly profit since swinging into the black in the second half of last year.
Pulmuone's Japan unit cut its losses by more than 40 percent on the year.
The food service and distribution division, which supplies industrial cafeterias, military bases, airport lounges and highway rest stops, posted a 10.6 percent rise in sales to 254 billion won. Operating profit in the unit climbed 28.3 percent to 6.1 billion won, with concession and rest-area operations alone growing 17.7 percent on stronger travel demand.
Overseas food manufacturing and distribution sales rose 13.8 percent to 189.8 billion won, with the segment swinging to roughly break-even from a 5.3 billion won loss a year earlier.
"For overseas operations, we plan to keep up growth through expanded supply to global retail and warehouse club channels and a stronger K-Food portfolio, while sustaining profits on the back of North American cold-chain capabilities," said Kim Jong-heon, head of Pulmuone's management planning office.
Shares of Pulmuone ended at 11,020 won per stock, 1.87 percent lower than the day before.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
