Lassonde Industries, a Canada-based company involved in the development, manufacture and sale of wide range of fruit and vegetable juices and drinks, has posted a rise of 74.6% in sales to $256.4m for the second quarter (Q2) ended 30 June 2012, against $146.9m for the same period last year.

Operating profit stood at $20.7m, up $9.6m, versus operating profit of $11.1m in the same quarter the previous fiscal.

With the exclusion of recent acquisition of Clement Pappas and Company, second-quarter operating profit for the company was up by $2.5m.

The increase in operating profit was mainly due to positive impact of additional sales volume on profit margin and $1.5m gain on the sale of property, plant and equipment.

Profit before income taxes was $13.7m for the second quarter of 2012, up $4.7m from $9m in the same quarter last year.

Lassonde Industries board chairman and CEO Pierre-Paul Lassonde said that new products have helped them sustain growth in a market that continues to be impacted by high raw material costs.

"As for the integration of Clement Pappas, we are on the right track and making good progress in achieving synergies, despite the lower volumes being seen across the entire U.S. fruit juice and drink industry," Lassonde said.

"Between the acquisition date and June 30, 2012, we repaid US$28.4 million in long-term debt of Clement Pappas."