Nestle has recorded an increase in sales for the first nine months of the year, driven by double-digit organic growth in emerging markets.
For the January to September period, group sales reached CHF82.8bn (US$85bn), representing growth of 6.1% on an organic basis and 4.5% of “real internal growth” – Nestle’s figure to measure the growth achieved without external funding and excluding pricing, currency exchange and acquisitions
Nestle’s food and beverage operations posted a 5.5% rise in sales in the Americas on an organic basis. In Europe, sales rose 3.3%, while in Asia, Oceania and Africa sales were up 10.7%.
Key drivers of growth included “deeper distribution in emerging markets, a strong pipeline of targeted innovation and the success of premium product initiatives around the world”, the firm said.
CEO Paul Bulcke added: “Our performance is the result of clear strategic alignment and focus on execution throughout the whole organisation, both in developed and in emerging markets.”
Bulcke reconfirmed Nestle’s full-year guidance of a 5% rise in sales on an organic basis combined with an increase in EBIT margin in constant currencies.
