3 August 2010 – Colombia’s Grupo Nacional de Chocolates, which recently announced plans to become the majority shareholder of coffee producer Industrias Aliadas, has reported a net profit of 125 billion Colombian pesos (about $68 million) in for H1 2010, up 59%.

The company explained that it benefitted from the increased profitability of its food business and lower debt costs. Grupo Chocolates’ EBITDA, menawhile, grew 2.9% to 261 billion Colombian pesos. Total consolidated operating revenues fell 2.8% to 2.08 trillion Colombian pesos, however, due to the weaker Venezuelan currency.