HJ Heinz Co, the world's largest ketchup producer, on Thursday reported a 7.8-per-cent rise in profits for the fourth quarter of the 2006-07 fiscal year, according to dpa. Net income climbed to 181 million dollars in the quarter, from 167.9 million dollars in the year-earlier period, and to 785.7 million dollars for the entire fiscal year. Revenue rose 0.6 percent to 2.41 billion dollars in the fourth quarter and 4.1 per cent to 9 billion dollars in the 2006-07 fiscal year. Heinz also raised its quarterly dividend by 8.6 per cent to 38 cents a share and raised its forecast for the coming year. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based company said it expects an earnings- increase of 7-8 per cent and a revenue hike of 4 per cent in the 2007-08 period.
