Campbell Soup Company, a manufacturer and marketer of foods and simple meals, including soup and sauces, baked snacks and healthy beverages, has reported $127m in net earnings for the fourth-quarter (Q4) ended 29 July 2012, an increase of 27%, compared to $100m in the prior year period.

The current quarter’s reported net earnings included transaction costs associated with the 6 August 2012 acquisition of Bolthouse Farms.

Sales of Soup and Sauces increased 9% and 4% respectively compared to the year ago quarter.

International Simple Meals and Beverages’ sales decreased 7% to $294m during the reporting period.

Excluding the impact of currency, higher sales in Latin America, primarily beverage products, were partially offset by declines in Canada, while sales in Europe and in the Asia Pacific region were comparable to the year-ago period.

US Beverages’ sales were $181m, an increase of 3% compared to the year-ago period, because of gains from volume and mix.

Sales gains continued to outpace category growth and were primarily driven by double-digit increases in V8 Splash beverages and gains in V8 V-Fusion beverages, partially offset by declines in V8 vegetable juice.

V8 V-Fusion beverages’ sales benefited from the introduction of new products, including smoothies, energy, sparkling and kids’ drinks.

Campbell Soup president and chief executive officer Denise Morrison said they generated organic sales growth in the fourth quarter, with gains across most of their portfolio, including strong sales in US Soup and US Simple Meals.

"Retailers continue to respond favorably to our new product development, and we have started shipping new products for fiscal 2013 launches," Morrison added.

"In fiscal 2012, we advanced our strategies to stabilize and profitably grow North America soup and simple meals, to expand our international presence and to drive growth in healthy beverages and baked snacks."