Chile's Hortifrut reported a 22% increase in sales for the third quarter of 2013, reaching US$262 million in revenue.

At the close of the calendar year, the company posted investor profits of US$14.8 million.

Hortifrut attributed the growth to a 20.4% increase in volume, totaling 34.2MT, accompanied by a revenue increase of 1.3% per kilo of mixed berries.

Sales of fresh blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries represented 94% of consolidated revenue, while value-added products represented 5%.

Operating income reached US$31 million at year's end, representing a 68.3% increase with respect to 2012. EBITDA reached US$37.4 million, a 61.3% increase. European subsidiaries represented US$3.1 million of this, in part of the company's merger with VitalBerry Marketing.

The company noted US$30 million in investments throughout the 2013 calendar year in new plantations and infrastructure as part of a five-year plan.

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