Nestle's 2011 sales growth exceeds estimates

GENEVA - Nestle SA, the world's biggest food company, reported that last year's sales growth beat analysts' estimates and forecast higher earnings in 2012 as it introduces products such as the Nescafe Alegria coffee maker.

Sales rose 7.5 percent excluding acquisitions, disposals and currency shifts, the Vevey, Switzerland-based company said on Thursday in a statement. That beat the 7 percent average estimate of 12 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Nestle forecast higher underlying earnings per share at constant currencies in 2012.

Nestle has developed Maggi Juicy Roasting cooking aids and Dreyer's smoothies to counter weakening consumer sentiment in North America and Europe. The company has also passed on higher raw-material costs to consumers in the form of increased prices. Sales from its Americas unit gained 6.2 percent, helped by the introduction of products such as DiGiorno Pizza Combos.