AGM Trading Statement

Robinson PLC

21 May 2026

 

Robinson plc                                                         

21 May 2026

AGM TRADING STATEMENT

Robinson plc ("Robinson", the "Company" or the "Group"; stock code: RBN), the custom manufacturer of plastic and paperboard packaging, is holding its Annual General Meeting today at 11:30am at the Peak Edge Hotel, Darley Road, Chesterfield S45 0LW. The Chairman, Alan Raleigh, will make the following statement:

Current trading

"Sales volumes in the first four months of the year are 7% above the same period in 2025. Including the effect of sales price and foreign exchange movements, total revenue is 6% above the same period in 2025.

Sales volumes in the UK continue to exceed the prior year, reflecting new projects won and implemented over the previous 24 months. In Plastics, PET bottles continue to perform well across all sectors and, in the first quarter, we increased our share of the PP chilled soup sector. In Paperbox, we recently completed a substantial new project and revenue in this business is more than double the same period in 2025, but profits are at a similar level due to an isolated raw material quality issue.

Sales in Denmark were better than expected due to strong demand from a major customer.

The trading environment in Poland remains challenging and, in the first four months of the year, sales volumes were 17% lower than the same period in 2025. We have recently been awarded two new projects in this business, demonstrating that we can compete effectively; however, these will take time to implement as they require investment in new plant and machinery, with limited benefit expected in 2026.

Despite the higher revenue, underlying operating profit* in the first four months of 2026 was below the same period in 2025, reflecting the challenging trading environment.

Net debt

Net debt increased to £6.5m at 30 April 2026 (31 December 2025: £5.4m), reflecting £1.6m of capital expenditure, partly offset by £0.6m of surplus property proceeds.

Outlook

We expect underlying operating profit* for the 2026 financial year to be in line with current market expectations.

We expect revenue and profit growth in our UK Plastics business, driven by the benefit of known new customer projects, while trading conditions in Poland are expected to remain challenging. The Paperbox business is expected to make a similar contribution to the prior year.

The conflict in the Middle East has increased uncertainty and pricing across polymer, energy and freight markets, but with relatively limited impact on trading so far in the year to date. While the effect on the Group's April earnings was limited by our stockholding, sustained elevated purchase prices for polymer and other inputs are expected to increase input and distribution costs later in the year, either directly or through wider supply chain disruption. The Group is monitoring developments closely and is seeking to mitigate these effects through temporary pricing adjustments, surcharges and procurement actions where possible. At this stage, the full effect and duration of the conflict, the extent to which price increases can be recovered, and any impact of such increases on customer demand remain uncertain.

We remain committed to delivering above-market profitable growth and our target of 6-8% underlying operating margin**. Reported profit before tax in 2026 is expected to benefit materially from property disposals."

For further information, please contact:

Robinson plc	www.robinsonpackaging.com
John Melia, CEO Mike Cusick, CFO	Tel: [phone]
Cavendish Capital Markets Limited
Ed Frisby / Seamus Fricker, Corporate Finance Ella Bedford, Corporate Broking	Tel: [phone]

About Robinson:

Being a purpose-led business, Robinson specialises in custom packaging with technical and value-added solutions for food and consumer product hygiene, safety, protection, and convenience; going above and beyond to create a sustainable future for our people and our planet. Its main activity is in injection and blow moulded plastic packaging and rigid paperboard luxury packaging, operating within the Food, Homecare, Personal care, and Luxury gift sectors. Robinson provides products and services to major players in the fast-moving consumer goods market including Bakkavor, British Pepper & Spice, McBride, Persan, Procter & Gamble and Unilever.

Headquartered in Chesterfield, UK, Robinson has plants in the UK, Poland and Denmark. Robinson was formerly a family business with its origins dating back to 1839, currently employing nearly 400 people. The Group has an ongoing disposal programme for its substantial surplus property portfolio with development potential.

* Operating profit before other items

** Operating profit margin before other items

The information contained within this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as stipulated under the retained EU law version of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 (the "UK MAR") which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. The information is disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of the UK MAR. Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

 

END