Dutch brewer Heineken reported a 12.7 per cent rise in 2006 operating profit today, after strong growth in the United Kingdom and United States, and increased its dividend by 50 per cent.
Heineken, the world's fourth-largest brewer in terms of sales, posted 2006 operating profit of €1.6 billion before special items on revenues of €11.8 billion.
It forecast underlying growth in net profit in the range of 10 to 13 per cent in 2007, after recording underlying growth of 12.6 percent in 2006, above guidance given earlier in the year.
"This has been a strong year for Heineken. We have accelerated our organic top-line growth with significant increases in revenue and volume across our global portfolio," said chief executive Jean-Francois van Boxmeer.
"The strong growth of the Heineken brand across all our regions continues to be at the heart of this acceleration, driven by the introduction of Heineken Premium Light, an increased commitment to innovation, and high impact consumer marketing," he added.
Heineken earns about 70 per cent of its operating profit in the mature beer markets of the United States and Europe, but is looking to diversify with new products and expand into high-growth emerging markets such as Russia.
The introduction of Heineken Premium Light, a low-calorie beer aimed at the diet-conscious US market, had been a success, the company said, selling 70 per cent more by volume than originally forecast. The beer would be introduced in cans in 2007, Heineken said.
Sales of Heineken's premium brand beer also rose in the United States, despite fears that the new light beer could cannibalise sales. Good weather throughout the second half of 2006 helped boost sales in the mature western Europe market by 2.4 percent, while in the United Kingdom sales soared 25 per cent after a marketing push.