ITC net rises 25% on all-round growth in sales -The Hindu Business Line
July 28, 2011
Riding on the back of an all-round growth in  sales across various segments, ITC Ltd has posted a 25 per cent rise in net  profit at Rs 1,333 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, against Rs 1,070  crore during the same period last fiscal. 
On a sequential basis, the net profit rose about  four per cent from Rs 1,281 crore during the fourth quarter ended March 31,  2011. Net sales grew 20 per cent to Rs 5,767 crore. 
Revenues from cigarettes business grew 16 per  cent to Rs 2,874 crore, while that from the non-cigarette FMCG business  increased 20 per cent to Rs 1,198 crore. 
The branded packaged foods business witnessed a  sales growth of 21 per cent. "The business achieved significant improvement in  profitability driven by an enriched product mix, better realisations, smart  sourcing, improved market servicing and cost management actions. During the  quarter, the business continued to focus on enhancing consumer franchise through  new product launches, product extensions and focused communication," according  to a company press release. 
The business continued to invest in  manufacturing and distribution infrastructure to support larger scale in view  of the growing demand for its products and to maximise the benefits of  distributed manufacturing for servicing proximal markets. 
Revenues from the agri business segment grew 26  per cent to Rs 1,707 crore. The sales growth was driven by higher trading  volumes and improved realisations in soya, wheat and coffee, the release said. 
The paperboards and packaging division grew 21  per cent to Rs 960 crore on account of an 'enriched product mix and better  realisations'. The hotels division posted a growth of about ten per cent to Rs  230 crore.