A strong product pipeline and continuing Asian growth have given Blackmores (ASX: BKL) its ninth consecutive year of record sales and profits despite Australian retail's problems.

Blackmores achieved a 12.4 per cent increase in full year profit with $27.3 million net profit after tax (NPAT) and grew sales by 9.1 per cent on the corresponding year to $234.4 million.

Chief executive Christine Holgate said this is an excellent result considering subdued trading conditions in Australia, the impact of natural disasters in the region and the strength of our dollar, which diluted strong Asian sales.

Holgate said the company’s new pet health business had contributed to the result as consumer interest in pet nutrition increases.

“Our new pet health business, Pure Animal Wellbeing (PAW), has been successfully integrated into the Blackmores Group, has an expanded product range and achieved a 60 per cent sales lift since being acquired by Blackmores in July 2010. It is a business we are still investing in to grow as consumer interest in pet nutrition increases.”

Asia's contribution to net profit more than doubled compared to last year, and now comprises 19 per cent of total group profit, the company says.

“Blackmores’ results were buoyed by a successful market entry into Korea. Additionally, each of its Asian markets delivered double digit top line growth in this period,” it said.

Blackmores has declared a final dividend of 80 cents per share fully franked, bringing the full year dividend to 124 cents fully franked, a 10.7 per cent increase on last year.