Empire Premium Food posts RM13.7 million quarterly profit, declares dividend
The Empire Sushi operator declared a 0.67 sen-per-share interim dividend and is targeting approximately 165 outlets by March 31, 2027.
Empire Premium Food Bhd reported RM13.7 million in profit after tax for its second quarter ended Sept 30, 2026, an unadjusted increase of 26.2 per cent from the previous quarter. The Malaysian operator of Empire Sushi also announced an interim dividend totalling RM7.4 million.
Quarterly revenue reached RM85.2 million, rising 0.6 per cent from RM84.7 million in the preceding quarter. The group attributed its earnings performance to cost discipline and operational efficiency. Its gross profit margin reached 42 per cent, supported by tighter management of direct staffing costs and raw material purchases.
For the six months to Sept 30, revenue increased 25.1 per cent year-on-year to RM169.9 million. Profit after tax climbed 19.5 per cent to RM24.5 million from RM20.5 million. Excluding one-off listing expenses, first-half profit after tax was RM26.3 million.
The first interim single-tier dividend of 0.67 sen per share is payable on Dec 8. Empire ended the quarter without borrowings, while its cash and cash equivalents totalled RM235.8 million.
Five outlet openings during the quarter took Empire's network to 156 locations as at Sept 30, comprising 138 grab-and-go kiosks and 18 quick dine-in outlets. The group aims to reach approximately 165 outlets by March 31, 2027, with particular attention to Sabah and Sarawak. Chief executive officer Nicole Lim said the expansion strategy prioritised earnings potential at individual locations rather than outlet numbers alone.
