The bottling giant raises its 2025 forecast after first-half results beat expectations, driven by surging energy drink sales and a standout performance in emerging economies.
LONDON – Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (CCH) on Wednesday raised its full-year financial guidance, signaling strong confidence after a first half that saw robust growth and profits that surpassed analyst expectations.
The company announced it now expects to achieve organic revenue growth at the top end of its 6-8% range for 2025. In a further show of strength, it also upgraded its organic operating profit (EBIT) growth forecast to the upper limit of its 7-11% range.
This optimistic revision follows a stellar first-half performance, where the company reported a 9.9% increase in organic revenue. First-half volumes grew by a solid 2.6%, while organic EBIT climbed an impressive 11.8%. Earnings per share came in at €1.31, beating consensus estimates by approximately 6%.
The key driver behind the strong results was the company’s performance in emerging markets, which delivered outstanding organic revenue growth of 17.4% and a remarkable 31.3% increase in organic EBIT. The energy drink category was a significant contributor to this success, with volumes surging by 30% across all segments.
Further bolstering its financial position, CCH improved its gross margin by 60 basis points and grew its free cash flow by 10.1% to €242.5 million, even while increasing capital expenditure. The company also provided a more favorable outlook on external factors, significantly reducing its forecast for foreign exchange headwinds and net finance costs.
While the company noted that higher marketing investments led to a temporary decline in EBIT in its established markets, the overall performance highlights a successful strategy that is delivering strong returns and has positioned Coca-Cola HBC for a highly profitable year.
