Nestle SA said its first quarter sales rose 6 percent to 25.7 billion Swiss francs or $25 billion as the company rose prices of its products.

Nestle increased prices about 3 percent last year as coffee, cocoa, flour and sugar prices rose. However the company met analysts expectations from $25.35 to $25.5 billion francs according to forecasts.

Among its food and drink divisions, the only one that showed losses was the bottled water where revenue fell 6.8 percent to 2.16 billion francs. Including some expenses Nestle water sales declined 0.6 percent.

The maker of Nescafe coffee and Kit Kat chocolate bars confirmed its profit forecasts for this year to rise 7 to 7.5 percent in a basis that excludes acquisitions, divestments and currency swings.

Analysts observed that the strategy of the company to focus on health and nutrition and accurate acquisitions have marked the success of the company in the food market allowing sales to jump despite of the increase of prices in raw materials.

Nestle