BRITVIC, which makes Robinsons, Tango and J20, has beaten market expectations by posting a 20.8 per cent rise in pre-tax profits to £45.3 million.

The firm, which rejected a takeover from AG Barr last year following the intervention of competition authorities shortly before the deal was expected to go through, saw its sales increase 4.7 per cent to £670.7m in the 28 weeks to April 13. It sold more than one billion litres of soft drinks in the period, a 3.9 per cent increase on a year ago, with average prices rising 0.8 per cent.