Shares at Fever-Tree (FEVR) have rocketed by more than 18% to record levels after the premium mixer brand said trading had outperformed expectations in the first four months of its new financial year.

A trading statement to the London Stock Exchange added that the momentum seen in 2015 had continued in the first four months of 2016 as the demand for premium mixers increased.

This strong performance, alongside a currently favourable foreign exchange environment, had also driven gross margin improvements, Fever-Tree said in the short statement.

“Given the strong sales in the period to date, the board anticipates that the results for the full year ending 31 December 2016 will be materially ahead of market expectations.”

The brand increased revenues by 71% to £59.3m in 2015, which was its first full year as a listed company, with adjusted EBITDA up 82% to £18.2m.

Fever-Tree has benefitted from the rising consumer appetite for premiumisation, as well as having a lack of competitors in the high-end market.

Growth has been equally as strong in the UK and the US, with the brand’s ginger beer a key part of the Moscow Mule cocktail which are popular in the states.

The share price is up 18.9% to 710.7p so far today on the back of the update giving Fever-Tree a market cap of about £820m, which is a rise of more than 400% on the November 2014 flotation price of 134p when the business was valued at £154m. It was the best-performing fmcg stock of 2015, recording growth of close to 250% in the year.

Founders Charles Rolls and Tim Warrillow cashed in almost £18m worth of shares between them in March to allow institutional investors to grab a piece of the business.