Sardus' first half-year

Continued increase in sales and profit The Sardus Group, one of the Nordic Region's leading producers of sandwich toppings, continued its positive growth in the second quarter of 2002. Sales during the first half of the year increased by 33 percent, to SEK 793 M, and profit before taxes increased from SEK 23 M in the corresponding period last year to SEK 36 M. Profit before amortization of goodwill increased by 46 percent, from SEK 48 M to SEK 70 M. It is estimated that earnings for 2002 will exceed earnings in 2001.

“The positive trend in the first quarter continued during the second quarter," President Ragnar Bringert notes. "Our margins increased, thanks to a favorable product mix, and Sardus is capturing market shares in many market segments. It is especially gratifying that our product development and focus on lighter products have been well received by consumers here at home and in Denmark ." Sales in the second quarter increased from SEK 313 M to SEK 393 M and profit before tax rose from SEK 16 M to SEK 18 M. Profit before amortization of goodwill increased from SEK 28 M to SEK 36 M. Sardus is on the "A" List of Stockholmsbörsen. The Group consists of Pastejköket, the market leader in liver paste; Charkdelikatesser, which produces and markets processed meats and is the market leader in black pudding, jellied loaf and coarse ground sausage; Sardus Foodpartner, which is among the leading suppliers of deepfrozen foods to the institutional market; 3-Stjernet A/S. Denmark's leading producer of salami; and Falbygdens Ost, a leader in mature quality hard cheese. The Group has slightly more than 700 employees, with estimated sales of approximately SEK 1.6 billion in 2002. Helsingborg , July 17, 2002 AB SARDUS (publ) Ragnar Bringert President For additional information, contact President Ragnar Bringert. +46 70-593 62 73, or +46 42-37 02 50.