Britvic will release its FY results on 26 November

Britvic is set to post a full-year sales and profits increase despite a tough Q4 that saw its European units struggle against a strong comparable from last year.

In a trading update today, ahead of full results next month, Britvic said that net sales increased by 2% to GBP1.3bn (US$2.1bn) in the 52 weeks to 28 September. Volumes were also up by 2%, to 2.1bn litres, in the same period.

The company said it maintains its forecast from last year that it will post EBIT in the region of GBP148m-156m, up from GBP135m in FY 2014.

Fourth-quarter performance was largely negative, with overall sales down 6% and volumes decreasing by 7.5%. The company blamed strong results in the same period last year when a hot summer in Europe boosted demand. 

In Ireland's Q4, sales dropped by 18.5%, taking full-year declines down by 6.5%. France sales decreased by 18% in the quarter, and by 1% for the full year.

Britvic's core market the UK, which accounts for about three-quarters of sales, also suffered in Q4, with sales down 2%. Full-year sales were up by 3%.

Britvic this year increased distribution of its Fruit Shoot brand in the US to all 50 states, and its international unit increased sales by 31% in Q4 and by 16% in the full year.

CEO Simon Litherland said: “We have delivered a strong performance despite the poorer summer weather and the continued challenging trading environment.”

Britvic will release its FY results on 26 November.

Its share price was up by 2.3% as of 10am today.

To read the company's full results, click here.