Vitasoy International Holdings, which sells soya-based drinks and other beverages, said it would not rule out staff cuts during the current economic slowdown but that organic growth on the mainland would be its profit driver in the future.
'We don't have a plan to lay off staff at the moment,' said executive chairman Winston Lo Yau-lai.
But Mr Lo said no one could fully estimate the operating situation during the current financial crisis.
Net profit for the six months to September was HK$97 million, down 7.6 per cent from last year. The decline was due to a one-off provision of HK$26 million in relation to six years' leave pay entitlements for Hong Kong employees, stemming from a case to which Vitasoy was not a party.
Excluding the one-off provision, earnings were HK$120 million, up 14 per cent from last year on turnover that rose 19.8 per cent to HK$1.425 billion.
A first-half dividend of 2.8 HK cents per share will be distributed.
Vitasoy sells products in Hong Kong, the mainland, North America, Australia and Singapore.