("UPDATE: Chile Bottler Andina 9-Month Net Rises To CLP54.21B," published at 8:47 a.m. EDT, misstated the direction of the profit performance in the headline. The correct version follows.)
SANTIAGO -(Dow Jones)- Chilean Coca-Cola bottler Embotelladora Andina SA's (AKOA, AKOB, ANDINA-B.SN) nine-month net profit retreated to 54.21 billion pesos ($102.15 million) from CLP54.93 billion a year earlier, according to a Thursday filing with the SVS securities regulator.
Sales during the January-September period fell to CLP532.21 billion from CLP551.04 billion in the same period a year earlier.
Operating income during the period was CLP81.13 billion, down from CLP87.12 billion in the first three quarters of 2008, according to the filing.
In a separate statement, the company said third-quarter profit was CLP19.58 billion, up 16.1% from the third quarter of 2008 and that earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization was CLP34.54 billion, down 3.8% year-on-year.
In the first nine months of the year, the company's consolidated volume sales rose nearly 2% and it increased its market share and value in the three countries where it operates, Andina's executive vice president, Jaime Garcia, said in the statement.
"We think that more than ever this year we've implemented the correct strategies to maintain growth and we're working daily on ensuring the best sustainable results," he said.
Embotelladora Andina bottles and distributes Coca-Cola and other soft drinks, fruit juices, beer, and mineral water in Chile, Argentina and Brazil.
-By Carolina Pica, Dow Jones Newswires; 56-2-820-4244; carolina.pica@dowjones.com