Net profits at the catering group Campbell Bewley were unchanged last year at €4 million despite a 34 per cent rise in revenues to €135.6 million.Pre-tax profits rose 7 per cent to €4.3 million.
The group attributed its performance to challenging conditions after the September 11th attacks and deflated demand in the market during and after the foot-and-mouth outbreak.
Retained profits at the end of the year stood at €11.8 million and the group said trading had "improved substantially".
Campbell Bewley is best known for its landmark cafés in central Dublin but the group has expanded into the US and British café, retail and vending machine markets.
It is 70 per cent owned by the family of Mr Patrick Campbell, founder of Campbell Catering.
Chief executive Mr Dan Cronin said its cafés in Boston were adversely affected after the attacks on September 11th but added that its operations in California had performed strongly.
Sales in its British and German operations were affected by foot-and-mouth and a reduction in conference and tourist business. In addition, its British vending machine operation Arabica was streamlined after a downturn attributed to the tech collapse.
Campbell Bewley opened two outlets in the Waterstone's bookshops in Dublin and Belfast but has recently closed a café at Mary Street, Dublin.
That sale of the leasehold to the Lifestyle chain is understood to have yielded €1.27 million for the group. The company said it was targetting new opportunities in the café market.
