JSE-listed integrated poultry producer Astral Foods has managed to swing from an operating loss of R621-million in the 2023 financial year to an operating profit of R1.1-billion for the financial year ended September 30, on the back of its Avian influenza-and loadshedding-induced recovery strategy.

“The successful execution of our ‘re-set, re-focus and re-start’ campaign during the year under review resulted in the group increasing operating profit by 281% year-on-year and returning to profitability after the worst year in Astral’s history,” comments outgoing CEO Chris Schutte.