Acquisitions drive Natra's sales, profits growth

Spanish confectionery firm Natra announced a 31% rise in sales to 384 million euros and a 41% jump in gross margins. Natra attributed its increase in profits to the purchase of Belgium-based chocolate firm All Crump. The company also purchased the Italian brand Nutkao a month after purchasing All Crump. The purchases of these two companies made Natra the leading European producer of chocolate and hazelnut spreads for the private label brand market and the second largest chocolate spread manufacturer in Europe.