Buoyed by growth in emerging markets, Swiss food and drink giant Nestle has posted an 11% increase in sales for the first nine months of 2012.
The world's biggest food and drink company's sales rose to 67.6 billion Swiss francs for the nine months to September, up from 60.9 billion francs the same time last year.
The company reported 11.7% growth in emerging markets and 2.4% growth in developed markets.
The maker of Nescafe and Haagen-Dazs said it expects organic sales growth of 6.1% this year and 2.9% internal growth
Nestlé UK and Ireland confectionery sales hit record levels in September the company said. Sales of Yorkie bars are up almost 30% over the year to date in the UK and Ireland and Kit Kat Chunky sales have risen by 18%.
Nestle chief executive Paul Bulcke attributed the success in less-developed markets to the company "expanding our routes to market and enhancing our product offerings."
But he noted that Nestle also managed to grow in "the intensely competitive developed markets in spite of a general economic malaise and low levels of consumer confidence."
With that success and lowered costs for its raw materials, Nestle's "continued momentum in real internal growth, combined with some easing of input cost pressures, allows us to confirm our full-year outlook," he added.
The company's statement said that outlook also includes the expectation that "the tough trading environment, especially in developed markets, is continuing."
