SINGAPORE - Consumer group Fraser and Neave (F&N) lifted its numbers for the year, thanks to due to higher contributions from its beverages and dairies segments.

Earnings soared 23.5 per cent to $152.6 million for the 12 months to Sept 30, while revenue rose 3.7 per cent to $1.9 billion over last year.

Earnings before interest and taxes (Ebit) for the beverages unit shot up from $400,000 in 2018 to $6.7 million on the back of higher sales, cheaper sugar and lower manufacturing overheads and marketing spend.

Ebit for the dairies segment rose 19.3 per cent to $275.5 million due to higher profit contribution of about $118 million from Dairies Thailand and a greater earnings share of about $111 million from its Vietnam joint stock firm, Vinamilk.

The higher overall revenue figure was driven by increased contributions from beverages and dairies.

Beverages recorded turnover of $470.7 million, 6.5 per cent higher than last year, thanks to successful festive campaigns and the continued roll-out of new healthier products in the core markets of Malaysia and Singapore.

Dairies revenue rose 3.6 per cent to $1.2 billion, in large part to Dairies Thailand's marketing and branding campaigns backed by capacity expansion.

Only the printing and publishing arm saw a slight revenue decline - down 0.6 per cent to $277.4 million - after the maiden contribution from Print Lab, an acquisition this year, while improved distribution sales offset declines in other units.

Earnings per share rose to 10.6 cents from 8.5 cents a year ago.

A final dividend of four cents a share has a been proposed to go with the interim dividend of 1.5 cents a share paid in June. The total payout of 5.5 cents is one cent over the previous year.

F&N shares closed up 0.6 per cent at $1.70 on Thursday (Nov 14).