Commodity cost rises and the weak economic environment have in part been blamed for a predicted fall in Premier Foods plc's first-half trading profits.

In a statement to the market, the UK food company said that it expects to report trading profit for the ongoing business in the first half of the year of between GBP65m (US$104m) and GBP70m versus GBP94m in the equivalent period in 2010.

The 2011 result includes a GBP10m credit arising from reduced liabilities as a consequence of closing the pension schemes.

Premier, the UK's largest food manufacturer, said that the decline in trading profit is due to a number of factors, reported just-food.