Rising drink prices boost Britvic sales

For the full 52-week period, total revenue increased by 5.6% to £978.8m, driven by both volume and average realised price ("ARP") growth. Meanwhile total revenues of £246.5m for the 12 weeks to 27th September 2009 represented an increase of 4.2%, resulting again from both volume and ARP growth. And Britvic Ireland volumes for the quarter to 30th September 2009 were down 13.9% with euro revenues down 16.3%. Revenues at the group's British carbonated drinks arm rose 9.1% while still drinks was5.6% higher in the quarter. Chief executive Paul Mood said: "Strong revenue growth achieved by selling more branded soft drinks at higher prices characterises our performance in the latest quarter and the full year. Compelling brand-equity programmes and strong innovation, supported by excellent execution at the point of sale, have been instrumental in our success. A re-engineered business in Ireland is, we believe, well placed to exploit market growth as it returns. "The combination of top-line growth and close management of costs mean that we will meet our recently-increased expectations for 2009. Additionally, despite the poor visibility of future market performance, we remain fully confident at this early stage that we have the momentum, brands and in-market execution to deliver another strong set of results for the year ahead."