Charlie's Group says better marketing and improved relationships with supermarkets played a part in increasing sales and profits.
The publicly listed beverage company issued its results yesterday, noting the marketing team had increased and sales in supermarkets grew well ahead of the market.
Chairman Ted van Arkel said
the supermarket sales had long played a part but had improved for the Phoenix organics range.
Charlie's sales of chilled fruit juice increased 32.8 per cent last year compared with 2006 when overall they had increased 5.6 per cent across the market.
The company said new systems put in place last September meant improved sales execution and visibility of the brands on the supermarket shelf.
Phoenix Organics was sold in 13 per cent more stores than a year ago and had moved into the mainstream beverage aisle in supermarkets.
The Herald reported yesterday that the company had competed negotiations with a distributor for Charlie's and Phoenix into Japan.
Van Arkel said progress was being made, but said that final agreement has not been completed.
The group has completed Japanese production trials for the Charlie's brand and was now reviewing options with its partner.
Directors recommended no final dividend in keeping with the "reinvestment for growth" strategy.
No interim dividend was declared for the same reason.
Chief executive Stefan Lepionka said it was extremely pleasing to report record sales and earnings for the past year since the Charlie's inception eight years ago.
He said the focus in the current financial year would be on product packaging and marketing innovation, expanding carbonated beverage ranges.
