Kewpie (TYO:2809) profit attributable to owners of the parent rose 50% to 18.8 billion yen for the fiscal first half from 12.5 billion yen a year earlier.

The mayonnaise producer's basic earnings per share (EPS) rose to 135.27 yen from 90.02 yen a year ago, according to a Tokyo bourse filing on Thursday.

Net sales increased 6.3% to 251.9 billion yen in the six months ended May 31 from 236.8 billion yen a year earlier.

It declared an interim dividend of 32.00 yen per share, payable from Aug. 6.

For the fiscal year ending Nov. 30, the company expects an attributable profit of 29.2 billion yen, EPS of 210.07 yen, and net sales of 505.0 billion yen.

Kewpie plans to pay a year-end dividend of 32.00 yen per share, including a 10-yen commemorative dividend for its 100th anniversary.