Industry giants Nestlé and Unilever report steady sales growth driven by emerging markets for first quarter of 2017 and predict continued growth throughout the year.
Better-than-expected first-half sales growth has allowed the world’s biggest food company, Nestlé, to confirm its 2015 outlook despite poor exchange rates leading to decreased profits.
Nestlé has reported slower sales growth in the first quarter of 2013 hit by unrest in the Middle East and a cold start to spring, which affected sales of ice cream and bottled water.
Unilever has become “Nestle-like” in its delivery of strong and consistent results, according to Andrew Wood, senior research analyst at Sanford C Bernstein.
Bernstein Research gives sales forecasts for the top 10 food and beverage companies worldwide up to 2014 with some predicted to gain shares and others to lose out.