US: Hansen Natural reports strong Q3

Hansen Natural Corporation has a sharp increase in sales and profits for both its third quarter and first nine-month period, as sales leapt by over a third.

The soft drinks group said that gross sales for the third quarter increased 35.8% to US$277.8m from $204.6m a year earlier. Net sales for the third quarter increased 38.4% to $247.2m.

Operating income for the third quarter increased 73.3% to $73.4m. Net income for the third quarter increased 73.1% to $45.8m.

For the nine-month period, gross sales jumped 42.7% to $748.5m, with net sales increasing 44.8% to $657.8m.

Operating income for the nine months advanced 35.6% to $166.7m. Net income for the period jumped 37.7% to $104.3m.

Rodney C. Sacks, chairman and chief executive officer, said the record revenues reflected continued strong sales of Monster Energy brand energy drinks, as well as certain new products such as the Java Monster line of non-carbonated dairy based coffee drinks (introduced in April 2007) and Monster M-80 energy drinks (introduced in March 2007).

"The energy category continues to show strong growth over the prior year, and the Monster Energy brand continued to increase its market share. In particular, sales of our Java Monster line of non-carbonated dairy based coffee drinks have exceeded our expectations," Sacks said.