RB confident of maintaining sales growth

Consumer goods giant Reckitt Benckiser (RB) today reported a 4 per cent rise in fourth-quarter sales and said it was confident of maintaining that pace during the current year.

Like-for-like sales for the final three months of 2013 came in at £2.5 billion, helping full-year sales rise 5 per cent to £10bn.

RB chief executive Rakesh Kapoor said the owner of brands such as Durex condoms and Vanish stain remover expects sales for 2014 to rise between 4 and 5 per cent, excluding its pharmaceuticals arm.

Full-year operating profits fell 4 per cent to £2.3bn, but shareholders are in line to receive a 2 per cent increase in their total dividend to 137p a share.