Swiss Nestle posts strong rise in sales helped by emerging markets, lower costs

GENEVA – Food and drink giant Nestle SA has posted an 11 per cent increase in sales of dozens of its household name brand products for the first nine months of 2012.

The Vevey, Switzerland-based company says it had sales of 67.6 billion Swiss francs through September, up from 60.9 billion during the same period in 2011.

The maker of Nescafe, Jenny Craig and Haagen-Dazs said in a statement issued before the opening of the Zurich exchange Thursday that it expects organic sales growth of 6.1 per cent this year and 2.9 per cent real internal growth, despite its conclusion “the tough trading environment, especially in developed markets, is continuing.”

Nestle Chief Executive Paul Bulcke says the growth outlook was helped by success in emerging markets and some “easing” of costs for its raw materials.