East African Breweries Limited (EABL), a Kenya-based alcoholic beverage firm owned by Diageo, has posted revenue of Kshs55.5bn ($659.9m) for the full-year ended 30 June 2012, up by 24%, compared to the revenue of Kshs44.8bn ($532.6m) during the comparable period last year.

Operating profit for the full-year 2012 was increased by 21% to Kshs15bn ($178.3m), as against the operating profit of Kshs12.42bn ($147.8m) for the full-year ended 30 June 2011.

Profit before tax grew by 24%, while profit attributable to shareholders was Kshs10.6bn ($126m), representing a 45% growth over prior year.

Net sales in the beer sector was increased by 21% and net sales in the spirits sector was increased by 47% during the year ended 30 June 2012, as against the comparable period the previous year.

EABL’s international business grew by 30%, primarily due to distributor network expansion in the Great Lakes region and South Sudan.

EABL group managing director Devlin Hainsworth said the strong results were driven by a focused significant investment across the company’s full value chain enabling the delivery of double-digit growth in all its markets underpinned by a steady performance in Kenya and Uganda and a turnaround in Tanzania and also the strategic focus on cost management resulted in an increase in operating profit despite inflation and local currency shocks in the region.

"We are reassured by the investment in infrastructure in the region and East African governments’ commitment in encouraging business development," Hainsworth added.