Britvic boosts takings.

Byline: HENRYK ZIENTEK

SOFT drinks firm Britvic has reported a healthy rise in revenues - bucking the downward trend for the industry as a whole.

Britvic, which produces Pennine Spring bottled water from the former Ben Shaw's works at Birkby, increased total revenues by 2.1% to pounds 218.6m in the 12 weeks to December 21 compared with the same period in 2007.

The Essex-based group said volume sales for still drinks, including bottled water brands Pennine Spring andDrench, rose by 7% against a market decline of more than 6% during the period.

Britvic said the improvement was largely due to increased sales of Robinsons squash, sports drink Gatorade and Drench.

Volume sales for fizzy drinks roe by 2.8% against a market decline of 1.9%.

Both Pepsi and 7UP, which the firm makes under licence, increased revenue and volume sales, Britvic said.

However, the group reported a further fall in sales of soft drinks in pubs and bars - down by 5% in the quarter to November - although it said the rate of decline had slowed.

Stronger Christmas trading provided a short-term respite for the licensed sector, but Britvic said it did not expect a more widespread and sustained recovery in the medium term.

Britvic said it had taken a strong line to cut costs - confirming that 145 jobs would go at its operations in Ireland. It also expected a 1% fall in raw material inflation to between 4% and 4.5% this year.