Libstar, a food producer whose brands include Lancewood Umatie and Cape Herb & Spice's said sales volume growth in the 21 weeks to May 31, 2026 was impacted by a tough consumer trading environment.
Libstar Holdings' trading revenue for the 21 weeks to May 31 was flat due to a “severely constrained” consumer environment, the JSE-listed food brand manufacturing company said on Thursday.
In a pre-close trading update, the perishables, grocery, baking and baking aids, snacks and confectionery, and household and personal care group, with brands such as Cape Herb & Spice, Umatie and Lancewood, said there had been only low-single-digit value growth in its defined retail channel basket.
The group said also that inflationary pressure on manufacturing expenses had intensified, driven by sharp increases in petroleum-linked input costs, notably in packaging and distribution.
“In this market context, the group's trading performance for the current period was below original expectations,” Libstar’s directors said.
