Britvic has soared to new heights this year, propelled by a shift towards healthier drinking habits, as it stands on the cusp of being acquired by Carlsberg.
This morning, Britvic announced to the markets that its revenue for the year ending September 30 climbed by 9.5% to £1.89bn.
The company's adjusted earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) surged by 15.2% to £250.9m, while the EBIT margin expanded by 60 basis points to 13.2%.
Profit after tax at Britvic edged up by 1.8% to £125.8m, and adjusted earnings per share ascended to 69.5p, marking an uplift of 13.9%.
Emerging brands, including the plant-based milk and shots brand Plenish, witnessed an average growth spurt of 52.1% over the year, with overall brand revenues increasing by an average of 5.5%, as reported by .
Britvic emphasised its "continued focus on healthier people" through the provision of "great-tasting low-calories drinks".
In the º£½ÇÊÓƵ, there's been a notable pivot towards non-alcoholic beverages such as Britvic's own J20, especially among younger consumers.
The firm also reported robust performance in Brazil, where both established and newly acquired brands enjoyed substantial double-digit revenue growth.
Chief executive Simon Litherland commented: "We have delivered another excellent financial performance this year, with strong growth across our markets and portfolio of market-leading brands."
"We have also continued to ensure the business is fit for the future, adding more capacity, investing in our people and significantly increasing investment in marketing and innovation."
"Subject to approval from the regulatory authorities, we anticipate that the acquisition by Carlsberg will complete in the first quarter of 2025. I am confident that the prospects for our brands and people are extremely positive, and I look forward to them going from strength to strength."
In a bold move into the º£½ÇÊÓƵ's non-alcoholic drinks market, Danish brewing behemoth Carlsberg agreed to snap up the British soft drinks manufacturer for a hefty £3.3bn back in July.
The deal has led to a £21.3m charge for the company as it prepares for the transition.
Britvic's shares have soared over 50% since the start of the year, with a notable jump following the acquisition announcement.
This year, Britvic has been pouring money into its operations, including a £25m investment to enhance its national distribution centre in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, and setting up a new canning line to bring more production in-house.
Britvic in Rugby, London and Leeds, with its headquarters in Hemel Hempstead and other centres in Lutterworth, Solihull and Tamworth.
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