Bottler Coca-Cola HBC trounces profit estimates as demand soars

Coca-Cola Consolidated

22/02/2022 07:01

Feb 22 (Reuters) - Coca-Cola HBC AG'S  CCH.L  annual profit
trounced market expectations, boosted by higher demand for
low-sugar and energy drinks while people opted to dine out more
as COVID restrictions eased, the soft drinks bottler said on
Tuesday. 
    "The business has delivered a very strong recovery in 2021,
with all key metrics above pre-pandemic levels," Chief Executive
Officer Zoran Bogdanovic said, adding that the company was
mindful of inflationary pressures ahead.
    The company, one of Coca-Cola's  KO.N  bottlers and sellers
operating in 29 countries across Europe and Africa, said
comparable operating profit for the full year ended Dec. 31 rose
 23.6% to 831 million euros ($939.03 mln), above a
company-provided consensus of 797.6 million euros. 
     
    
     ($1 = 0.8850 euros)

 (Reporting by Amna Karimi in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry
Jacob-Phillips)
 ((Amna.Karimi@thomsonreuters.com; +91 8083261226;))