Vimto puts fizz into Nichols sales

VIMTO-maker Nichols outperformed the soft drinks market last year with a 3.4% increase in like-for-like sales to £113.6m.

The Newton-le-Willows-based group described trading conditions in the grocery sector as “challenging” and the overall market saw a 0.4% sales increase.

Sales of Vimto, one of a number of Nichols brands, increased by 4.5% in the year to December 31.

The company said this growth was partly down to an advertising campaign and rebranded packaging.

Total international revenues were ahead by 4.3% and up 7.3% after taking into account currency fluctuations. The group had a particularly strong second half in the Middle East where Vimto is embraced as the drink of choice during the Muslim festival Eid. Full year sales were up by 12.3% in the region.

The management team expects the full year profit and earnings per share to be ahead of 2013, “and at least in line with management expectations”.