Feb 25, 2004 12:00 PM, from staff and wire reports

Sanderson Farms Inc, a Laurel MS-based processor and distributor of frozen and fresh chicken, more than tripled its quarterly profits on strong demand for chicken. This is despite Sanderson and other poultry producers being hit by news of a new avian flu outbreak in Texas recently.

Net sales for Sanderson's first fiscal quarter ending Jan 31, 2004, were $226.4 million, compared with $184.2 million for the same period a year ago. For the quarter, the company reported net income of $19.0 million, versus $5.3 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2003.