JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African food producer RCL Foods reported on Monday a 38.8% rise in half-year earnings, largely due to gains in its groceries and baking businesses.

RCL Foods, whose brands include Selati sugar, Yum Yum peanut butter and Sunbake bread, said headline earnings per share from continuing operations rose to 109.4 South African cents in the six months ended December, up from the restated 78.8 cents in the prior comparable year.

The board declared a dividend of 20 South African cents per share for the period, after not declaring one in the previous period.