Coca-Cola HBC AG expects its 2026 organic revenue growth to exceed its previous target range after higher drink volumes and revenue per case drove a 9.0% third-quarter gain.
The bottler now projects growth modestly above its former 6%–7% range, having previously expected a result near the upper end. Its forecast for organic operating profit growth remains 8%–10%. Organic growth excludes the effects of currency movements and changes in the businesses included in its results.
For the three months ended Oct. 2, reported net sales revenue rose 9.6% to €3,503.2 million. The 9.0% organic revenue increase exceeded the 8.0% analyst consensus shown on a Vuma-hosted page last updated Oct. 15.
Organic sales volume climbed 5.4% to 870.9 million unit cases, while organic revenue per case increased 3.4%. Coca-Cola HBC linked the per-case gain to selective pricing and shifts in product and package mix. Energy drink volume rose 24.7%, compared with 4.5% growth for sparkling drinks.
The company also pointed to summer sales activity and FIFA World Cup promotions in July. Its update did not quantify how much the promotions contributed to the quarter’s growth.
Coca-Cola HBC is a bottling partner of The Coca-Cola Company operating in 29 countries across Europe and Africa. The Coca-Cola Company separately raised its 2026 earnings outlook after global unit case volume rose 5% in the quarter ended Oct. 2.
Coca-Cola HBC plans to acquire a 75% stake in Coca-Cola Beverages Africa for $2.6 billion and expects the deal to close by the end of 2026. As of Nov. 4, it had obtained antitrust clearance in five of six jurisdictions, with Tanzania’s approval still pending. The company has projected a low-single-digit increase in earnings per share from the first full year after completion.
Coca-Cola HBC is scheduled to report full-year 2026 results on Feb. 18, 2027.
