Nichols PLC (LON:NICL), the Vimto maker, softened the news that chief executive Marnie Millard is leaving at the start of next year by reinstating its dividend.
Millard will be replaced by chief operating officer Andrew Milne at the start of 2021.
The FTSE250 firm also said coronavirus restrictions had led a to 29% drop in carbonates sales to £26.8m in its first half compared to the previous year. The Stills segment has fared better and was down 4.6% to £32.4mln.
Profits before tax fell 78% to £2.9mln in the six months to June and the interim dividend will be 28p, it added.
Russ Mould, at AJ Bell, said Nichols is the fourth company to reinstate its dividend after Land Securities, Focusrite and Palace Capital.
Proposed dividend payments from the four are worth just £13mln in total he added compared to £33bn in cancellations, suspensions, deferrals or cuts across the UK market so far in 2020.
Shares in Nichols rose 7% to 1,270p