Nestlé reports 11.57% increase in full-year 2012 net earnings

Swiss food giant Nestlé has reported an 11.57% increase in its full year net earnings to CHF10.6bn ($11.5bn) in 2012, compared to CHF9.5bn ($10.35bn) in 2011, driven by growth in all regions across the world.

The company posted a 10.2% increase in net sales to CHF92.2bn ($99.97bn), compared to CHF83.6bn ($90.64bn), with foreign exchange rate adding 1.7% to sales and acquisitions a further 2.6%.

Organic sales, including 3.1% real internal growth and 2.8% pricing, increased 5.9%.

Nestlé CEO Paul Bulcke said the company delivered a good, broad-based performance in 2012, building upon the profitable growth achieved consistently over previous years.

"Despite the many challenges 2013 will no doubt bring, we expect to deliver the Nestlé Model of organic growth between 5% and 6% as well as an improved margin and underlying earnings per share in constant currencies," Bulcke added.

The company registered growth in all regions across the world in 2012: 5.9% organic growth in the Americas, 2.4% in Europe and 10.3% in Asia, Oceania and Africa.

Organic growth in Europe increased 2.4%, despite a challenging trading environment, while both North America and Latin America regions also performed well resulting in 5.9% organic growth.

With Japan being the strongest performer, the Asia, Oceania and Africa region benefited from growth in developed markets and in emerging markets, where the company achieved double-digit growth in Africa, China, the Middle East and Indonesia.

For fiscal 2013, Nestlé expects to deliver organic growth between 5% and 6% with an improved operating profit margin and underlying earnings per share in constant currency, as well as improvement in capital efficiency.

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Image: Nestlé stated that the environment looks to be every bit as challenging in 2013 as it was in 2012. Photo courtesy of Nestlé.