ROBINSONS-to-Tango drinks giant Britvic posted a 23% hike in annual profits today as it bucked sales declines in the wider soft drinks market.

The group - which also makes Pepsi, 7Up and J20 - reported pre-tax profits of £86.5 million in the year to September 27 and said its brands grew market share across the board.

Britvic saw British sales volumes of its still and fizzy drinks rise by 3.6% and 7.9% respectively despite a consumer spending slowdown hitting the soft drinks industry.

The performance in Britain helped offset troubles in the Irish market, which suffered a 5.6% slide in revenues across the year.

Britvic - the UK’s second biggest fizzy drinks supplier behind Coca Cola - thanked a revival in consumer demand for carbonated drinks for an "excellent performance" of brands such as Tango. It makes 7Up and Pepsi under license.

Chief executive Paul Moody said conditions were also improving in the wider soft drinks market, while he gave an upbeat view on current trading.

He said: "Recent conditions in the Great Britain soft drink market have shown some signs of improvement, although visibility in both Great Britain and Ireland beyond the short term remains limited and we take a cautious view of consumer spending.

"However, we are encouraged by our strong group performance in the early weeks of the new financial year."

Britvic said sales were bolstered by new launches, such as Robinsons Be Natural and Juicy Drench, while it also revamped packaging for J20, Pepsi, 7Up, Tango and Fruit Shoot.

The Chelmsford-based firm has also been countering tougher market conditions by raising prices.

Further international growth added support, with new travel contract wins in the airline and shipping sectors and rapid growth in export markets, such as Turkey and Bulgaria.

The group’s shares rose more than 2% today on news of its profit hike.