British soft drinks maker Nichols plc announced it has launched its Vimto soft drinks in Benin Republic, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritania and Uganda, expanding its presence in Africa to 35 countries.

The company which had $43.6m in overseas sales in its latest results said it has made two new appointments to support its international business as year-on-year growth hit 20.3%.

Nichols said it has been particularly buoyed by sales in Africa which grew 21.2% in 2016.

The Vimto brand which was first exported to Africa in the 1920s and ’30s has grown popular in some African markets and is now been bottled locally under licenses in 29 countries including Nigeria, South Africa, Cameroun, Egypt, Mali and Senegal.