001125 Rising Hog Prices Erode Premium Brands Income

Toronto - Rising hog prices ate into the margins at Premium Brands Inc.'s pig-processing business resulting in a third-quarter loss.

The company also said it has identified several ways to boost shareholder value as previously announced, although it is still too early to release any details.

Premium Brands said it lost C$700,000 or 9 Canadian cents a share in the third quarter ended September 30 compared with a profit of C$1.2 million or 16 cents a share in the year earlier period.

Sales in the quarter edged up 11% to C$157.9 million from a year-earlier C$142.1 million despite a strike at its British Columbian processing plant.

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