UK chocolate demand lifts Nestle

The world’s biggest food and drink group Nestle today said a renewed focus on the UK chocolate market helped drive a 16% hike in annual earnings.

The Swiss giant, which makes Kit Kat, Aero and Smarties, said European sales rose 3% to 28.5 billion Swiss francs (€18.2bn) in 2007, as it was also buoyed by a strong performance by coffee brand Nescafe.