The Nestlé Group has announced that consolidated sales reached 67.7 billion Swiss francs during the first nine months of this year. Real internal growth accelerated to 3.8 per cent, resulting in organic growth of 5.8 per cent.

Commenting on these positive results, a spokesman for Nestlé Group said that Nestlé has managed to record strong organic growth. This confirms the group's strong business fundamentals and that Nestlé's strategy is heading in the right direction.

Outlook for the full year, combined with sustainable margin improvement remains secure. Nestlé is confident of achieving its target of between five and six per cent organic growth for 2005 as a whole, combined with an improvement in constant currency margins. These positive results, coupled with constant growth ensure that Nestlé will keep delivering the highest quality products to all its consumers.

Zone Europe delivered positive organic growth of 1.6 per cent, a slight improvement on the first half of the year.

Swiss Nestlé Group retains its position as the biggest food and beverage company in the world. It is represented in Malta by Nestlé Malta Ltd thus being the only company in Malta to have been set up in order to represent its overseas mother company to promote and distribute its respective products on the local market.

Products represented by Nestlé Malta Ltd on behalf of the Nestlé Group include, Nescafe, Kit Kat, Smarties, Motta, Nesquik, Buitoni, Perugina, a range of breakfast cereals, including the popular Nestle Fitness breakfast cereals, and the Nestle baby foods, among others.