Swiss food giant Nestle said on Thursday it was well placed to cope with volatile raw material prices after beating forecasts with a 6 percent rise in 2010 underlying sales.

We are starting 2011 with continued momentum, well placed to face uncertainties ahead, including volatile raw material prices, Nestle said in a statement.

We are therefore confident of achieving the Nestle Model in 2011: organic growth between 5 percent and 6 percent and an EBIT margin improvement in constant currencies, Nestle said.

(Reporting by Silke Koltrowitz)

Nestle