July 30 (Reuters) - Irn-Bru maker A.G. Barr BAG.L forecast on Tuesday its half-year revenue to be higher than prior-year levels, supported by strong demand for its cocktail mixes and soft drinks.
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT In the past year to current, the company has downsized and acquired businesses to expand its soft drinks portfolio to keep up with growing demand and competition.
CONTEXT The recently agreed 3.3-billion-pound ($4.24 billion) merger between Danish brewer Carlsberg CARLb.CO and British soft drinks maker Britvic BVIC.L had caused shares of peers A.G. Barr and Fevertree FEVR.L to rally. The merger was a move that could forge a UK beverage "powerhouse", Carlsberg said.
BY THE NUMBERS A.G. Barr now expects its revenue for the 26-week period ended July 27 to be about 221 million pounds, compared with 210.4 million pounds posted a year earlier.
The beverage maker reiterated its annual forecast after the second half of the year was trading in line with its expectations.
Analysts, on average, in a company-provided poll had forecast profit for the current financial year to be about 56.87 million pounds, while revenue is expected to be about 421.19 million pounds.
KEY QUOTES "The strategic margin rebuild programmes are on plan, guidance on revenue and margin remains unchanged, and we are on track to meet FY (full-year) expectations," recently appointed CEO Euan Sutherland said in a statement.
WHAT'S NEXT The company will report its interim results on Sept. 24.
($1 = 0.7780 pounds)
