Business
Final Results
Final Results.
About this update from Nichols Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n RNS Number : 4170P Nichols PLC 25 March 2009 \n \n\n\n\n\n\nDate:\n\n\nEmbargoed until 07.00am, Wednesday 25 March 2009\n\n\n\n\n\nContacts:\n\n\nJohn Nichols, Non-Executive Chairman\n\n\n\n\nBrendan Hynes, Group Chief Executive\n\n\n\n\nNichols plc\n\n\n\n\nTelephone: 01925 222222\n\n\n\n\nWebsite:www.nicholsplc.co.uk\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAlistair Mackinnon-Musson\n\n\nMark Brady\n\n\n\n\nNathan Field\n\n\nBrewin Dolphin\n\n\n\n\nHudson Sandler\n\n\n(NOMAD)\n\n\n\n\nTelephone:020 7796 4133\n\n\nTelephone: 0845 213 4748\n\n\n\n\nEmail: [email protected]\n\n\nWebsite: www.corporatefinance.brewin.co.uk\n\n\n\n\n\nPhotographs:\n\n\n\nAvailable on request from Hudson Sandler, as above\n\n\n\n\nNichols plc\nPRELIMINARY RESULTS\n\nNichols plc, the soft drinks group, announces its preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2008.\n\nThe group is a highly focused soft drinks and dispensed cold drinks business, comprising two operations: \n\n\n\n\n\n1.\n\n\nSoft Drinks (sales and marketing of the Vimto brand throughout the world, where it is now available in over 65 countries and of the Panda & Sunkist brands in the UK).\n\n\n\n\n\n2.\n\n\nDispense (namely the Cabana, Beacon, Cariel & Dayla cold soft drinks on draught 'dispense' businesses)\n\n\n\n\n\nHighlights:\n\n\n\nGroup profit before tax and exceptional items up 11.1%\n\n\nEPS (pre-exceptional items) up 15.4% to 20.03 pence\n\n\nSales of the Vimto brand grew by 16.1% in the UK\n\n\nTotal dividend for the year will be 11.15 pence, a 7.2% increase\n\n\nPositive cash of £6 million\n\n\n\nCommenting John Nichols, Non-Executive Chairman, said:\n\n'We are pleased to announce a strong set of results in Vimto's centenary year, particularly as this has been achieved against the backdrop of an economic downturn, a poor summer in the UK and increased promotional activity by our competitors.\n\n'The results show we have a robust, focused, profitable and cash generative business, which is well placed to respond to the challenges presented by the current economic climate. We continue to invest for growth in our core Vimto brand in the UK and overseas and feel we are in the best possible shape to face the future.'\n\n\n\nChairman's Statement\n\nIt is pleasing to announce ...