June 27 (Reuters) - McCormick ( MKC ) beat market

expectations for second-quarter profit and sales on Thursday,

led by strong demand for its spices and seasonings in Europe,

Middle East and Africa.

Customers grappling with still-high costs preferred cooking

at home to dining out, improving volumes across the company's

consumer segment, its biggest unit.

Consumer sales in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA)

business rose 5%, driven by 4% increase in volumes in the

quarter ended May 31, even as total sales in the segment

decreased 0.8%.

The Cholula hot sauce maker's net sales fell 1% to $1.64

billion but edged past estimates of $1.63 billion, according to

LSEG data. The company cited the divestiture of its canning

business as a reason for the decline.

Benefits from price hikes taken over the past quarters

lifted the company's gross profit margin to 37.7%, from 37.1% a

year earlier.

McCormick ( MKC ) reported an adjusted profit of 69 cents per share

in the quarter, compared with analysts' average estimate of 59

cents.

Shares of the Hunt Valley, Maryland-based company, which

reiterated its annual forecasts, were marginally up before the

bell.