(News Bulletin 247) – The European leader in the poultry market has revealed an acceleration of its growth in the second quarter of its fiscal 2025-2026. It was supported by an increase in poultry sales at higher prices as well as by new international group acquisitions.

In 2024, poultry became the most popular meat in France since each Frenchman consumed on average 31.6 kilograms over the year, according to figures from the Anvol interprofessional association.

And this growing appetite for poultry is favorable for the activity of LDC, the owner of the leased brand. In July, the company had unveiled a very toned 2025-2026 (ended at the end of February 2025-2026) with a turnover up almost 11% in published data.

In the second quarter, LDC remained on its good momentum from the start of the year. Between June and end of August 2025, which corresponds to the second quarter of the poultry specialist, LDC saw its turnover amount to 1.767 billion euros, an increase of 20.5% with data published compared to the second quarter of 2024-2025. At identical perimeter, the increase stands at 7%.

Acceleration of growth

The group therefore accelerated the rate of one quarter on the other, and this performance has taken speed the analysts, like TP ICAP Midcap, which only awaited “a good quarter”. The quarterly performance of LDC has proven significantly higher than the expectations of the design office, which was tabling for a turnover of 1.653 billion euros, and growth of 4% on a comparable perimeter.

Throughout the semester, sales amount to 3.450 billion euros against 2.985 billion euros over the first six months of the year 2024-2025, corresponding to an increase of 15.6% in value (+5.7% at identical perimeter).

In detail, sales of the poultry pole France increased by 7.8% with published data, to approach the billion euros, to 999.7 million euros in the second quarter of 2025-2026, thanks to tariff revaluations when the volumes remained almost stable. Throughout the semester, sales appreciated 7.3% in published data and 5.7% at identical perimeter.

Daily chicken, duck specialties and developed products, brought the group’s sales over the period, with a mixing of sales (distribution of sales to more expensive and more profitable) positive products.

Internationally, LDC’s turnover increased by 26% in comparable data, thanks to a jump of 17% of volumes with in particular the return to standardized production conditions on Duck and Oie families in Poland and Hungary.

In published data, the progression is much more impressive, of almost 78% over a year, supported by the integration of Polish companies Indykpol and Konspol, of the Romanian company Calibra, and European Convenience Food in Germany, which joined the group in 2024. On the semester, sales of the international pole reached 612.2 million euros, or 66% published and 16.4% in identical data.

Finally, the catering center is the only one in the second quarter to see its sales drop to the same perimeter, with a withdrawal of 2.7% to 216 million euros. Sales of this pole were penalized by difficult weather conditions marked by successive waves of heat during the summer which weighed on the consumption of cooked dishes and pizza.

Confirmation of annual objectives

Pierre Martinet, integrated into the group since June 1, 2025, displays “a satisfactory performance”, estimates TP ICAP Midcap with an increase of 7% in volume and allows the processing segment to display a 35% increase in the quarter. On the semester, turnover appears at 537.8 million euros up 18%, in data published with volumes up 33%.

“The performance on volumes is a bit disappointing, the group being still constrained by upstream but the price effects are significantly higher than our expectations,” notes Florent Thy-Tine, head of the ICAP Midcap TP Actions Research.

For the rest, the number one of poultry in Europe confirms “with confidence” its objective to cross the CAP of 7 billion euros in turnover at the end of February 2026. This ambition is accompanied by an increase in profitability with an objective of almost 560 million euros in EBITDA (gross operating result) in the year 2025-2026.

“In our opinion, the pricing revaluations and the product mix should make it possible to display solid margins levels. Remember that the group had indicated that it wants to redistribute the upstream price increases to support the breeders,” explains the design office which confirms its recommendation for purchase and its 102 euros course target.

On the Paris Stock Exchange, LDC jumped 8.3% around 3:10 p.m., after the publication of this semi -annual activity point higher than expectations.