Consumer goods group AVI on Wednesday said that its revenue for the quarter ended September 2008 was higher than for the same period last year.

"Revenue for the quarter ended September 2008 was 18 percent higher than the same period in the prior year," said Angus Band, chairperson of AVI.

He explained that revenue gains were supported by higher selling prices in response to rising input costs and reasonable volume gains in most categories.

"In general gross margins remain under pressure at current commodity prices and exchange rates," he said.

Looking ahead Band said that the outlook for the first half of the financial year is dependent on the continuity of the volume growth experienced in the first quarter and in particular consumer demand over the festive season.

I-Net Bridge