LONDON: The UK producer of Vimto has warned of tougher trading conditions in the Middle East.
The soft drinks company Nichols said that the the war in Yemen has led to a supply disruption which could impact sales.
While sales in the 12 months to December are still forecast to rise, the company now expects its adjusted pretax profit to be in line with last year’s results, according to a filing on the London Stock Exchange.
Nichols said it forecast low single-digit profit growth next year due to the Yemen crisis as well concerns about a possible slowdown in the Saudi Arabian economy.
It said sales to the Middle East in 2018 “are likely to be less than previously expected.”
Vimto has long been popular across the Middle East – especially during Ramadan when sales have tended to rise significantly.
Elsewhere, the company said its Africa business has been “excellent” with full-year revenue forecast to exceed last year’s results by 20 percent.
It said the “strong growth trend” in the region is likely to continue in 2018.
As of November, UK Vimto sales were up nine percent year-on-year.
The company said it was ready for the UK government’s sugar levy, with Vimto and its Feel Good fruit drinks already below the required threshold.
The levy places a limit on the amount of sugar that soft drinks in the UK can contain, and it is due to come into force next April.
Nichols will be posting the group’s preliminary results on March 1, 2018.
Vimto maker cautions on Mideast sales
Vimto maker cautions on Mideast sales
Saudi Arabia ranks 2nd globally in digital government, World Bank 2025 index shows
WASHINGTON: Saudi Arabia has achieved a historic milestone by securing second place worldwide in the 2025 GovTech Maturity Index released by the World Bank.
The announcement was made on Thursday during a press conference in Washington, DC, which evaluated 197 countries.
The Kingdom excelled across all sub-indicators, earning a 99.64 percent overall score and placing it in the “Very Advanced” category.
It achieved a score of 99.92 percent in the Core Government Systems Index, 99.90 percent in the Public Service Delivery Index, 99.30 percent in the Digital Citizen Engagement Index, and 99.50 percent in the Government Digital Transformation Enablers Index, reflecting some of the highest global scores.
This includes outstanding performance in digital infrastructure, core government systems, digital service delivery, and citizen engagement, among the highest globally.
Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Suwaiyan, governor of the Digital Government Authority, attributed this achievement to the unwavering support of the Saudi leadership, strong intergovernmental collaboration, and effective public-private partnerships.
He highlighted national efforts over recent years to re-engineer government services and build an advanced digital infrastructure, which enabled Saudi Arabia to reach this global standing.
Al-Suwaiyan emphasized that the Digital Government Authority continues to drive innovation and enhance the quality of digital services, in line with Saudi Vision 2030, supporting the national economy and consolidating the Kingdom’s transformation goals.
The 2025 GTMI data reflects Saudi Arabia’s excellence across key areas, including near-perfect scores in core government systems, public service delivery, digital citizen engagement, and government digital transformation enablers. This balanced performance places the Kingdom firmly in the “Grade A” classification for very advanced countries, demonstrating the maturity of its digital government ecosystem.
Saudi Arabia’s progress in the index has been remarkable: from 49th place in the 2020 edition, to third in 2022, and now second in 2025, confirming its status as a global leader in digital transformation and innovation.
The achievement also reflects the Kingdom’s focus on putting people at the center of digital transformation, enhancing user experience, improving government efficiency, and integrating artificial intelligence and emerging technologies across public services.
