KUALA LUMPUR – Nestle (Malaysia) Bhd posted a higher net profit of RM148.02 million in the third quarter ended September 30, 2021 (Q3 2021) from RM128.39 million a year earlier, supported by resilient demand in its core food and beverages (F&B) business, which recorded a 5.5% growth.
Revenue edged up by 3.6% to RM1.44 billion compared with RM1.39 billion in the same quarter previously, on the back of solid sales growth in both domestic and export markets, which grew by 3.4% and 4.5% respectively.
The company has declared an interim dividend of 70 sen per share, amounting to RM164.150 million, in respect of the financial year ending December 31, 2021.
Chief executive officer Juan Aranols said the company had delivered a strong quarter in spite of multiple operational constraints.
We have maintained our operations safely and continued to ensure stable supply to fulfil the solid demand for our brands, while ramping up our product innovation and accelerating our environmental actions,” he said in a statement today.
For the first nine months ended September 30, 2021, Nestle Malaysia recorded a 5.6% rise in revenue to RM4.27 billion from RM4.04 billion in the same period last year, mainly driven by domestic sales which grew by 6.3%, as the retail F&B business recorded a 6.2% increase.
Aranols said the group earnings and sales growth reflected the resiliency of its business and operations.
“Our key priorities have remained to ensure the safety of all employees and business partners as well as ensuring continuity in supply to our customers. On top of this, we have remained focused on delivering great-tasting, high quality and nutritious products that continue," he said.
Moving forward, he said the group remained positive on the prospects ahead for Malaysia and was confident the group would maintain its positive momentum to deliver another year of solid results in 2021.
“Looking ahead, a key challenge in the fourth quarter of the year will be the rising food commodity costs. We expect the impact to be more pronounced in the coming months and especially in 2022,” he added. – Bernama, November 2, 2021
