Nichols PLC Trading Update (7306T)

TIDMNICL

RNS Number : 7306T

Nichols PLC

10 January 2017

 
 Date:       Embargoed until 07.00 Tuesday 10 January 
              2017 
 Contacts:   John Nichols, Non-Executive Chairman 
             Marnie Millard, Group Chief Executive Officer 
              Tim Croston, Group Chief Financial Officer 
              Andrew Milne, Group Commercial Director 
             Nichols plc 
             Telephone: [phone] 
             Website:www.nicholsplc.co.uk 
 
             Alex Brennan/Nick         Richard Lindley 
              Lyon 
             Hudson Sandler            N+1 Singer (Nominated Adviser) 
             Telephone:[phone]        Telephone: [phone] 
              4133 
             Email: [e-mail]   Website: www.n1singer.com 
 

Nichols plc

Trading Update

Nichols plc ("the Group"), today issues the following trading update for the year ended 31 December 2016.

Group revenue for the year has increased by 7.3% totalling GBP117.3m (2015: GBP109.3m). The growth has come from both the UK and International business activities.

In the UK, sales have increased by 6.9% against the prior year to GBP90.7m (2015: GBP84.8m). This increase has been driven by sales of the Vimto brand, which were 5% ahead of the prior year, and the incremental revenues from the successful acquisition of The Noisy Drinks Co. Ltd. This performance is significantly ahead of the UK soft drinks market which grew by 0.8% in the year to 3 December 2016 (source: Nielsen).

International sales grew by 8.8% to GBP26.6m, an increase of GBP2.2m versus 2015.

In summary, the Board is pleased with the 2016 Group sales performance and expects full year profit and earnings per share to be ahead of the prior year and in line with expectations.

The Group's Preliminary results will be announced on 2 March 2017.

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014.

Notes to Editors:

Nichols plc is an international soft drinks business with sales in over 85 countries, selling products in both the Still and Carbonate categories. The Group is home to the iconic Vimto brand which is popular in the UK and around the world, particularly in the Middle East and Africa. Other brands in its portfolio include Feel Good, Starslush, Levi Roots and Sunkist.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

TSTKKLFBDFFBBBB

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 10, 2017 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)