FRUIT and food firm Del Monte declared its first earnings increase since 1993 this week, after an extensive restructuring plan. European operations contributed significantly to the canning and distributor’s growth, as well as good results from the Philippines despite the Asian crisis which has hit so many industries. Headline earnings per share rose 69% over 1997 to 50,7 cents per share for the year to December 31. Oversupply of fruit on world markets, adverse currency moves, and declining terms of trade for commodities in general have been blamed for Del Monte’s previous poor performance.