Director Dealings: Buying in to sweet success

VOLATILITY in the sugar market hit revenues at the Real Good Food Company last year but it still managed to increase overall profits.

The company's sugar distribution division saw sales fall by 20 per cent as shortages in supply emerged in Europe.

But the company's other divisions, which include bakery ingredients and dairy products, helped offset the impact on group pre-tax profits which grew to 1.95 million from 1.63m. Its sites include Scotts of Carluke, which produces jam, chocolate flavour coatings and sauces.

Following the results several directors went into the market to buy shares. The biggest purchase was by Pieter Tott, executive joint chairman, who bought a total of 150,000 shares at around 44p to take his holding up to 2.55 million. In total the directors spent more than 108,000.

• Philip Green, chief executive of water group United Utilities, has sold 100,000 shares at 588p. He still holds 116,384 shares.

• Mark Brooks, who joined the board of telecoms group Netcall following its acquisition of Telephonetics, has sold his 3.97 million shares in the company at 15p each.

• Edward Bramson, chairman of fund manager F&C Asset Management, has bought 263,000 shares at 76.68p each.

• John Rennocks, a non-executive director at satellite specialist Inmarsat, has more than doubled his holding with the purchase of 18,800 shares at 605.5p.

• David Wither, chief executive of technology group Sarantel, has bought 1 million shares at 1.1p each and now holds 2.1 million.

• Mike O'Leary, chairman of healthcare software group EMIS, has bought his first holding in the company with the purchase of 1,000 shares at 460p each.

• Roddy MacDougall, a non-executive director at mobile computer specialist Belgravium Technologies has bought 150,000 shares at 5p each to take his stake up to 5.9 million shares.

• Nitin Dattani, a director at property group West Pioneer has bought 49,733 shares at 22.1p each.