FULL year profits at Newton-le-Willows-based soft drinks maker Nichols will be “significantly ahead of last year” the company predicts.

Chairman John Nichols outlined another “exceptional performance” for the family-owned firm which saw pre-tax profits rise by 39% to £6m and sales jump 17.6% to £44.2m in the six months to June 30.

The group operates two divisions in its soft drinks arm and a draught soft drinks dispensing business.

Mr Nichols said soft drinks sales of 19.3% outstripped the market average of 5.1%.

These were helped by the successful launch of the new Cherry Vimto line in January and a 38.6% increase in international revenues.

The fortunes of the dispense business significantly outperformed the pub and club sector, he said, with sales and profits improving.

Mr Nichols said: “I’m really pleased to report the group has continued to trade strongly during the first half of the year.

“This has been achieved despite the continued economic uncertainty, an extremely competitive soft drinks market and against very strong comparatives from last year.”

He said the momentum the group has built means it expects full-year profits “significantly ahead of last year.”