The exponential rise in the middle class population in emerging countries offers excellent growth opportunities for multinational companies that have presence in those countries. In countries such as Brazil, India, China, Turkey,Indonesia the growing demand for consumer goods continues to increase with the rise in the standard of living of the middle class.

Since many multinational companies based in Europe have large exposure to emerging markets one simple way to profit from the growth in emerging markets is to invest in these companies. The current turmoil in European markets has significantly reduced the equity prices of some of the these European MNCs. So investors looking to gain some emerging market exposure  can add these stocks at current levels.

The following table lists 21 European consumer staples with emerging market sales of more than 15%:

[TABLE=1034]

Source:  Global Equity Strategy, Credit Suisse

UK-based cigarette makers British American Tobacco PLC (BTI) and Imperial Tobacco Group PLC(ITYBY) have dividend yields of 4.65% and 4.50% respectively.Diageo, one of the largest international producer of alcoholic beverages, is the owner of many famous brands including Diageo Johnnie Walker scotch whisky, Baileys Original Irish Cream liqueur, Captain Morgan rum, etc.Netherlands-based beer brewer Heineken NV (HINKY) owns over 125 breweries in more than 70 countries.

Disclosure: Long HENKY