Lassonde Industries, a Canada-based developer, manufacturer and marketer of fruit and vegetable juices, food products and drinks, has posted net sales of $1022.2m for the full year 2012, up 34.5%, compared to $760.26m for the comparable period last year.

The rise in sales was mainly due to increased sales of the company’s national brands, a favourable sales mix, and price increases introduced in response to higher raw material costs.

Sales for the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2012 increased by 2.9% to $277.3m from $269.6m in the same period in 2011.

The factors that led to the increase in Q4 sales were increase in sales of private label products, price increases that had a favourable impact on sales of national brands, increase in the sales volumes of national brands, decrease in slotting fees, unfavourable exchange impact, and a different sales mix that contributed to a decrease in sales.

Operating profit for the year ended 31 December 2012 was up from $60.3m in 2011 to $85.5m.

The company reported operating profit of $29.1m for Q4 2012, up $4.2m, as against $24.9m for the comparable period in 2011.

Lassonde Industries CEO and board chairman Pierre-Paul Lassonde said the company posted strong growth in 2012 despite high competition and lower sales volumes in fruit juices and drinks industry.

"We are continuing to prioritize repayment of the Clement Pappas debt, which has decreased by US$41.9 million between the acquisition date and December 31, 2012," Lassonde added.

Everfresh, Fairlee, Flavür, Fruité, Graves, Oasis and Rougemont are some of the fruit and vegetable juices and drinks marketed by the company.