Cider continues to boost C&C's performance
Drinks and snacks group C&C says it is set to post a 9% rise in group turnover for the year to the end of February as its key cider business achieved sales growth of about 30%.
In a trading statement, the company says that its full-year operating margin (before exceptional items) should be broadly unchanged despite significantly increased marketing investment.
With regard to the next two years the statement read: "C&C plans to extend the distribution of Magners to the principal centres of population in England and Wales in 2006/7 and to support this roll-out with a national media campaign.
"The successful implementation of this plan and continued share growth in existing markets for the Group’s cider business underpins the Group’s expectation of continued operating profit growth in 2006/7. The timing and scale of the marketing investment involved in the Magners roll-out, however, will limit profit growth in the six months ending August 2006."
