5 Apr 2011

More Australian supermarkets to stock Charlies drinks

1:08 pm on 5 April 2011

Listed drinks maker Charlies has struck a deal to sell its drinks in Woolworths supermarkets in Australia.

The firm will have its products in the stores from August.

It will then be selling in the two largest supermarket chains across the Tasman.

Charlies recently expanded its range in Australia's Coles supermarkets, where it has been selling drinks since last year.

The company's chief executive Stefan Lepionka says Charlies' Australian sales will more than double.

Mr Lepionka says Charlies needs to speed up production at its factories, to cope with the extra demand.

The company also recently struck a deal to stock its products in a high-end supermarket chain in Hong Kong.

The company's profit rose 56% to $1.1 million in the six months to the end of December.

Shares in Charlies soared 27% on Tuesday, rising 6 cents to 28 cents by midday.