Coca-Cola bottler sees sales dip on difficult market conditions
Coca-Cola's second largest bottler – Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company – has reported profit before tax of €194.0m (£163m) in the three months to 27 September. In the same period last year, profit stood at €186.1m (£156.5m). (Release)
Volume declined by three percent in the quarter, down four per cent in emerging markets and two per cent in developing ones in the quarter. Net sales were down like-for-like, declining five per cent in the quarter and three per cent in the first nine months of 2013. This year the company saw sales at €1,918.3m, compared to €2,020.8m in the same period of 2012.
Chief executive Dimitris Lois said that volume decline in both established and emerging markets reflects the ongoing challenges in the European macroeconomic environment. He added that trading conditions "will remain difficult" for the remainder of the year, but says the company is confident it will meet its strategic commitments.