The results before tax achieved by the Azkoyen Group in the first quarter of this year were 644 million pesetas, an increase of 12.2% on the same period last year.

The forthcoming arrival of the euro has influenced both the sales and profits recorded, with the highest volume again being on the domestic market.

The new structure adopted by the Azkoyen Group has been in operation since January, and from a legal point of view, it has involved incorporating the subsidiaries Azkoyen Hostelería, S.A. and Azkoyen Comercial Internacional, S.A. into Azkoyen Industrial, S.A., which is responsible for producing the main "Catering and Vending" products for the Group. The new structure, based on the principles of autonomy of assets, finances and management, does not affect employment or subcontracting. The aim is to improve the Group's position in the world market and its competitive capacity.