Aug 7 (Reuters) - Bottler Coca-Cola HBC boosted

its annual operating profit and revenue forecast on Wednesday,

as the Swiss group posted higher first-half revenue, helped by

its measures to mitigate the impact of high inflation and

currency fluctuations.

Demand for packaged beverages and food has stayed resilient,

even as companies hiked prices to pass on elevated raw material

costs to consumers. A gradually improving economic environment

has also encouraged beverage makers to raise their forecasts for

the year.

For the full year 2024, organic revenue growth is expected

to be between 8% and 12%, higher from the company's previous

mid-term target range of 6%-7%, it said.

Organic earnings before interest and taxes growth is

expected to lie within the range of 7% to 12%, up from the

previous estimates of 3% to 9%.

For the first half of 2024, the bottler posted a 13.6% jump

in organic revenue.

Despite the forecast boost, the company said it was mindful

of macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges and an uncertain

consumer environment, adding that it expects macroeconomic and

geopolitical backdrop to remain challenging in the second half.

The company, in which U.S. beverage giant Coca-Cola

owns more than 20% stake, said it expects cost of goods sold to

increase low to mid-single digits due to the combined effects of

inflation and currency fluctuations.