Sales setback for Byotrol after M&S booster

BYOTROL, the Daresbury-based pioneer of the anti-microbial cleaning product, has won a key contract with retail giant Marks & Spencer for 500 stores.

The good news was tempered though  with a warning that the AIM company’s sales won’t be as high as expected due to regulatory delays impacting one of its products.

The AIM-listed company said that while the issues with its UltraProtect range which has developed for Rentokil Initial, are frustrating, it is still on track to break even.

It said: “There have however been slower than expected sales of the UltraProtectrange, powered by Byotrol, the hygiene solution offered by partners Rentokil Initial.

“This was due to additional regulatory approvals required in European territories. This shortfall will have an impact on the results for the financial year ending 31 March 2013.”  

The company said revenues for the 12 months to March 31 are still expected to be significantly up on last year, but lower than previously anticipated.

It added: “Due to significant tight cost control and a newly agreed invoice discounting facility the company still anticipates that it will have sufficient cash to take the business to its target of breakeven and cash generation in H1 financial year 2013/14.”   

Chief executive Gary Millar, said: “We are on track towards achieving our overall financial objectives. Whilst the delays in the sales of the UltraProtect range are frustrating, Byotrol has continued to achieve considerable growth elsewhere by developing further large scale commercial relationships, as illustrated by our Marks and Spencer agreement.

“Consequently, we remain very positive about the prospects for the Byotrol technology, and look forward to updating the market on further commercial progress at the earliest opportunity.”

Marks and Spencer will use Byotrol sanitisers as its in-store surface hygiene solution. Botrol anti-microbial technologies will be rolled out following a successful earlier adoption in M&S’s Deli operations.

Simon Lushley, senior food technologist at Marks and Spencer, said: “Having trialled Byotrol in our own Deli operations and having been pleased with the results achieved, we are adopting Byotrol’s unique surface sanitising solution across our entire in-store operations.”