Soft drink bottler Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc reported a rise in fourth-quarter profit, helped by higher volume and pricing, and backed its 2011 profit outlook.

The bottler of Coca-Cola drinks, which operates solely in Europe, said net income had increased to $97 million in the fourth quarter from $91 million a year earlier.

On a per-share basis, earnings were 28 cents, in line with the analysts' average estimate, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S

Coca-Cola Enterprises sold its North American operations to Coca-Cola, its largest supplier, in October. The company now independently bottles and distributes Coke drinks in Western European countries that include Norway, Sweden, France, Belgium and Britain.

Sales rose 12 percent to $1.79 billion, beating the analysts' average estimate of $1.77 billion.

Volume rose 4 percent, and net pricing per case increased 1 percent in the fourth quarter.

The company stood by its 2011 outlook calling for earnings of $1.95 to $2.00 a share.

(Reporting by Dhanya Skariachan and Martinne Geller; editing by John Wallace and Lisa Von Ahn)

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