Nichols to Update Vimto as Strong Growth Continues
UK-based soft drink group Nichols is completely updating the packaging and introducing a new, multi-media advertising campaign for its flagship Vimto brand. Following a successful 2010 when it increased profit before tax (pre-exceptional) by 23% to £15.1m on turnover up 16% to £83.9m, Nichols is continuing to make strong progress in its current financial year and is confident of delivering further sales and earnings growth in line with expectations for the full year.
“We have continued to deliver strong growth in the first four months of the year, with group sales ahead of both our internal plans and last year, despite the very strong comparatives in 2010 and the prevailing uncertain economic and consumer backdrop,” says John Nichols, non-executive chairman of Nichols.
In addition to Vimto, which is sold in over 65 countries, the company’s brand portfolio includes Sunkist and Panda which are sold in the UK. Nichols enjoys a strong market position in both the stills and carbonated drinks categories and also in the soft drinks on dispense market, where its brands include Cabana, Ben Shaws and Dayla.
In the UK, for the four months to April 2011, sales increased by 12.5% on last year. Internationally, sales into Nichols’ core Middle East and Africa markets are also ahead of both internal plans and last year. Sales of soft drinks on dispense, which includes the remaining 50% of Dayla Liquid Packaging acquired in March 2011, are also ahead of internal expectations.