Healthier soft drinks and international growth propelled Coca-Cola’s fourth quarter figures past analysts’ forecasts, with profits rising by 79 per cent to $1.2 billion for the final three months of 2007.

The soft drinks giant reported fourth quarter revenue up 24 per cent to $7.3 billion as sales of non-carbonated beverages including Dasani, its once controversial mineral water, Powerade, its sports drink and Minute Maid fruit juices rose by 11 per cent.

Coca-Cola launched Dasani in the UK in 2004, shortly after which it was discovered to be treated tap water containing the potentially harmful compound, bromate, prompting the company to recall half a million bottles and pull the brand in the UK.

Coca-Cola today reported sales increases in across most regions, with sales up four per cent in the fourth quarter and six per cent in the full-year, fuelled by strong growth in China, India, Brazil as well as in Turkey, the Middle East and Europe-Asia.

However, in North America, sales rose by just one per cent.

Goldman Sachs said the stronger-than-expected overall earnings were driven by a number of factors, most notably, “solid underlying beverage consumption trends in international markets”.

Neville Isdell, chief executive at Coca-Cola, who was brought out of retirement in 2004 to lead a turnaround at the group, said today the fourth quarter was a “very positive finish to 2007” that “capped an excellent year for The Coca-Cola Co.”

But Mr Isdell, who is being succeeded by Muhtar Kent, admitted: “We realise the journey is long and we are by no means declaring victory.”

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