P511ORACLE 511 Mon17 Feb C4 1712:06        DALGETY (Food manufacturing)   Interim dividend 5.50p Pre-tax profit £35.4m (£33.2m) Earnings per share 11.2p (12.6p) Exchange rate fluctuations took around £4.7m from profits, the group says,with US activities particularly badly hit. Trading profits from America were 25% lower at £6.9m, but the sterling transalation belies a "creditable performance", the company suggests. The Gill & Dufus companies produced earnings of £15.6m. The board continues to look for further gains here as the two groups' activities are integrated. SKIING HOLIDAYS GALORE! ..on 584