ZURICH: Nestle raised its sales guidance on Wednesday, saying it now expects full year organic growth of 6-7% after strong retail sales and a recovery in out-of-home food consumption pushed organic sales 6.5% higher in the third quarter.
Organic sales - which strip out acquisitions, divestitures and currency swings - rose 7.6% in the first nine months, the world's biggest food group said in a statement, beating a forecast for a 6.6% increase in a company-compiled consensus.
The maker of KitKat chocolate bars and plant-based burger patties had previously raised its full-year guidance to 5-6% in July.
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The operating profit margin, under pressure from high raw material costs, is expected to be stable, it said.
"The underlying trading operating profit margin is expected around 17.5%, reflecting initial time delays between input cost inflation and pricing," Nestle said, keeping its mid-term outlook for "continued moderate margin improvement" unchanged.
Like its peers, Nestle is facing pressure on margins from rising input costs. Global supply chains are under strain due to factors such as a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Asia and staff shortages in the United States, increasing the price for its ingredients.
The Swiss company cautioned last month that input cost inflation would likely be even higher in 2022, which could at least temporarily squeeze margins until price increases take effect.
On Tuesday, peer Danone warned of growing inflationary pressures next year, while Procter & Gamble Co said it would raise prices in the United States to counter higher commodity and freight costs.
Anglo-Dutch rival Unilever is also due to give a trading update on Thursday.
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