Kraft Foods Inc posted a higher first-quarter profit helped by price increases and cost cutting measures.

The maker of Oreo cookies, Maxwell House coffee and a host of other well-known products said on Tuesday profit was $662 million, or 45 cents a share, compared with $601 million, or 39 cents a share, a year earlier.

Analysts on average forecast 40 cents a share, according to Reuters Estimates.

Kraft, like most food companies, has raised prices in recent years to offset higher commodity costs. But those price increases have pressured volume as some consumers turn to lower-priced, private label options.

Kraft shares traded at $25.00 in premarket electronic trading, up 3 percent from Monday's New York Stock Exchange close of $24.26.

(Reporting by Brad Dorfman; Editing by Derek Caney)

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