Indian FMCG major ITC has informed that its Q4 net profit zoomed 14%, helped by higher cigarette sales of its premium brands including India Kings and Gold Flake.

The company’s net profits in the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased to Rs 736 crore from Rs 651 crore a year earlier. The full-year net profit of the company rose 16% to Rs 312 crore.

Further, Kolkata-based ITC, 31.7% owned by British American Tobacco Plc., said that its net turnover had grown by 17% in the fourth quarter to Rs 3,934 crore from Rs 3466 crore.

The company is investing Rs 300 crore on new food processing plant in eastern India to expand its packaged foods portfolio, which includes biscuits, salty snacks and ready-to-eat foods.

The company will pay a dividend of Rs 3.50 per share of Rs 1 each against Rs 3.10 in the preceding financial year.