Dr Pepper Snapple Group sales, profits increase

PLANO, Texas — Dr Pepper Snapple Group reported $629 million in profits for fiscal year 2012, up from $606 million in 2011, the beverage maker said Thursday.

Profits for the fourth quarter were $170 million, compared with $166 million in fourth quarter 2011, driven by fiscal year 2012 sales of $5.99 billion and fourth-quarter sales of $1.48 billion, compared with $5.9 billion and $1.46 billion in 2011, respectively.

"As I look back on 2012, I am proud of the team's continuing ability to outperform the [carbonated soft drink] category, growing dollar share as measured by Nielsen and closing distribution gaps across CSDs, teas and juices," Dr Pepper Snapple Group president and CEO Larry Young said. "Our employees have embraced rapid continuous improvement, and it continues to drive tangible operational and financial improvements. Moving forward, nothing is more important than reinvigorating the CSD category and giving lapsed consumers a reason to come back to the brands they know and love."