KERRY Group is considering expanding its operations in Asia, the Middle East, South America and Africa and has about €150m-€200m to spend on acquisitions this year.

The Tralee-based food ingredients giant said that it would take a harder look at emerging markets in the coming months.

"The whole concept of emerging markets lends to our technologies," chief executive Stan McCarthy said on an analyst call last week as the company released first-half profit figures.

"It's a little bit early to say. But the question is consistent with the sentiment of our thinking and that we want to invest further in those emerging markets."

Kerry reported a 40% surge in pre-tax profits to €162m in the first six months of the year, topping analysts' estimates, and raised its forecast for how much profit it expected to make this year.

McCarthy also said that sales of Kerry's food brands in Ireland, which include the likes of Denny and Rye Valley, have begun to show signs of stabilising after declining in the early part of the year.

"We repositioned those brands like we mentioned last year with pricing and... the brands have responded. And we would say, at this point, that over the last 90 days, we are flat year-on-year... [whereas in the first quarter] we may have been behind the prior year," he said.

Shares touched an all-time high on Friday before easing slightly. They closed up 4% for the week to €25.74.