We're a highly focused soft drinks business. Our brand portfolio includes Vimto , which is sold in over 70 countries, Levi Roots, Weight Watchers, Sunkist and Panda, which are sold in the UK. We have a leading market position in both the still and carbonate drinks categories and also in the soft drinks on dispense market.





http://www.nicholsplc.co.uk/

Final results 7 March

Nichols: Canaccord Genuity raises target price from 820p to 1000p and upgrades to buy. Panmure Gordon increases target price from 830p to 900p, while reiterating its hold recommendation.

Preliminary Results

Highlights:

· Group sales up 9% to £107.8m (2011: £98.9m)

· Profit before tax up 13% to £20.5m (2011: £18.1m)

· Earnings per share up 14% to 41.4p (2011: 36.3p)

· Proposed final dividend of 11.7p, total dividend for the year up 13% to 17.3p (2011:15.3p)

· Sales in the UK grew 9%, significantly ahead of the market growth rate

· International sales up 8% year on year




http://www.moneyam.com/action/news/showArticle?id=4550497

Nichols PLC (NICL:LSE) set a new 52-week high during today's trading session when it reached 905.50. Over this period, the share price is up 39.74%.

Nichols: Investec raises target price from 800p to 890p and retains a hold recommendation.

A buy in this weeks IC - Weight watchers add fizz to Nichols.

Nichols share price hit new highs after another outstanding set of results. Home sales grew 9% against a 3% increase in UK soft drinks turnover overall, thanks to a double -digit rise in the number of outlets selling Vimto, along with successful new product launches. The top new performer was a line of no-calorie drinks for diet -brand weight watchers. Exports were another favourable factor, with sales up 22% in Africa and an impressive 24% in Europe. Overall, exports were 8% higher but were held back by flat income in the Middle East, partly due to the unfavourable timing of Ramadan. Good cost controls meant the fall in gross margins because of rising prices of raw materials -such as plastic , aluminium and sweeteners- was reversed at operating level. Broker Canaccord Genuity expects underlying pre-tax profits of £22.5m and EPS of 45.4p this year (from £22.5m and EPS of 40.9p in 2012)
One key to the years results will be how quicklyagreements to distribute products in North Africa via a large French distributor and in equatorial Africa via the Coca-Cola network ramp up. After another increase in net cash, acquisitions could be on the cards. On a prospective PE ratio of around 20 , nichol's don't appear cheap.But the rating is more than justified by the company's move into the UK's healthy drinks market - while export opportunities continue to abound.

Winner of the Best Food and Beverage PLC in the UK Stock Market awards 2013 in Shares mag this week.



As of Mar 15, 2013, the consensus forecast amongst 4 polled investment analysts covering Nichols plc advises that the company will outperform the market. This has been the consensus forecast since the sentiment of investment analysts deteriorated on Dec 02, 2011. The previous consensus forecast advised investors to purchase equity in Nichols plc.

Ex-dividend Wednesday 27 March 11.7p

On Tuesday, Nichols PLC (NICL:LSE) closed at 899.00, 0.72% below its 52-week high of 905.50, set on Mar 07, 2013.

Nichols PLC (NICL:LSE) set a new 52-week high during Thursday's trading session when it reached 907.00. Over this period, the share price is up 38.69%

Nichols PLC (NICL:LSE) set a new 52-week high during today's trading session when it reached 920.00. Over this period, the share price is up 37.52%.

2012 Final dividend payment

Friday 3rd May 2013

Nichols PLC (NICL:LSE) set a new 52-week high during today's trading session when it reached 940.00. Over this period, the share price is up 37.88%.

The naked trader today - Nichols (LON:NICL)where I now sit on a fabulous profit is up again and seems to have cleared 900 - a tenner next? It just keeps going, please keep drinking that Vimto!

A buy in this weeks IC - The company has good cost control, which means it can protect margins against higher raw material costs and this year distribution agreements in Africa will be key to success. With net cash in the bank, there are rumours that acquisitions could be on the horizon, too. Admittedly, the shares are trading on a punchy 22 times earnings, but that's a price worth paying for Nichols growth prospects and rising dividend.

Nichols PLC (NICL:LSE) set a new 52-week high during today's trading session when it reached 943.00. Over this period, the share price is up 34.48%

AGM Statement

RNS


RNS Number : 6749D

Nichols PLC

01 May 2013











Date:

Immediate release, Wednesday 1 May 2013




Contacts:

John Nichols, Non-Executive Chairman


Brendan Hynes, Group Chief Executive

Marnie Millard, incoming Group Chief Executive

Tim Croston, Group Finance Director


Nichols plc


Telephone: 01925 222222


Website:www.nicholsplc.co.uk









Nick Lyon / Alex Brennan

Richard Lindley


Hudson Sandler

N+1 Singer (Nominated Adviser)


Telephone:020 7796 4133

Telephone: 0113 388 4789


Email: nichols@hspr.com

Website: www.n1singer.com






Nichols plc

AGM Statement



John Nichols, Non-Executive Chairman of Nichols plc, the soft drinks group, will make the following statement at the Group's Annual General Meeting to be held later today:



Current Trading



"I am pleased to report that the Group's profit performance after the first four months of 2013 is in line with management expectations and ahead of the prior year. This has been achieved in a challenging UK market and against strong comparatives from last year.



In the UK, our core brands continue to perform well, with double digit sales growth in the Still category. In the Carbonate sector we have consciously reduced our participation in this heavily promoted sector, in line with our strategy of focusing on value generation. We expect this will result in a marginal decline in revenues for our UK business in 2013, but this will improve our overall operating margin and profitability.



Sales into our export markets are in line with management expectations, with sales to Africa ahead of last year and sales to the Middle East broadly at the same level as 2012.



I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our outgoing Chief Executive, Brendan Hynes, for his outstanding contribution to the business during the last 10 years and wish him every success for the future. Marnie Millard takes over as Chief Executive with the business in good health and, at this early stage of the year, we are very pleased with the Group's continuing progress and are confident of delivering results in line with full year expectations

Still beverages bring fizz to Vimto maker Nichols

By Rupert Steiner

PUBLISHED: 22:21, 1 May 2013 | UPDATED: 22:21, 1 May 2013








Vimto and Sunkist maker Nichols is to shift its focus away from the heavily promoted fizzy drinks market to grow its stable of still beverages.


The soft drinks firm, which also owns Panda, Cabana & Ben Shaws, said its core brands continued to perform well in a trading update ahead of its annual meeting.


It has seen double digit sales growth in the still category and expects a marginal decline in revenues for the UK business in 2013 due to reducing its reliance on fizzy drinks.



Vimto maker: Soft drinks firm Nichols operates in more than 65 countries

Non-executive chairman John Nichols said this will improve its overall operating margin and profitability.






He said: ‘I am pleased profit performance after the first four months of 2013 is in line with expectations and ahead of the prior year. This has been achieved in a challenging UK market and against strong comparatives from last year.’


The firm (down 8p to 930p) sells its drinks in more than 65 countries.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/markets/article-2317870/Still-beverages-bring-fizz-Vimto-maker-Nichols.html#ixzz2SAUJv9al
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Nichols PLC (NICL:LSE) set a new 52-week high during Wednesday's trading session when it reached 950.00. Over this period, the share price is up 29.23%.

Nichols PLC (NICL:LSE) set a new 52-week high during today's trading session when it reached 982.50. Over this period, the share price is up 38.08%.