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Jameson owners toast success as sales rise
ONE of Ireland’s most famous whiskey brands, Jameson, has recorded
booming sales across the world.
Jameson’s parent company, wine and spirits group Pernod Ricard said
sales have benefited from strong trade in the booming economies of China
and India.
Jameson, which is distilled in Midleton, Co. Cork, recorded 24 per cent
growth well ahead of organic growth from the spirits business of 13.4
per cent with more than 9 per cent growth in all 15 strategic brands,
including Jameson.
Jameson is extremely popular among the Irish community both at home and
abroad.
The gains in sales of the Irish whiskey has helped push first-quarter
turnover for Pernod Ricard 6.9 per cent ahead of forecasts to ?1.56billion
(£1.08billion) compared to ?1.45billion in the 2006/07 first quarter.
Organic growth rose 11.6 per cent, including foreign exchange and group
structure impacts of 1.9 per cent and 2.4 per cent respectively.
The figures confirmed Pernod, the owners of Irish Distillers, would deliver
strong sales and profit growth for the year, chairman Patrick Ricard said.
Pernod achieved underlying growth of 30 per cent in China during the first
quarter with equally good sales growth in India, where whiskey brands
such as Royal Stag and Imperial Blue sold well.
Recently drink makers have targeted fast-growing emerging markets such
as China, Russia and India to boost turnover.
Managing director Pierre Pringuet said that Pernod remained interested
in vodka brands Stolichnaya and Absolut, but would only buy one or the
other — not both.
“We don’t plan to do both the deals,” he said.
Mr Pringuet said Pernod was working very hard on a possible acquisition
of the Russian vodka and was still awaiting a further response from the
Swedish Government regarding a possible purchase of Absolut.
The first quarter statement said all regions contributed to the growth
with Jameson still contributing strongly to the group’s international
performance.
The Americas saw organic growth of 11 per cent with Central and South
America achieving 34 per cent growth in the period.
Sales in Asia and the rest of the world, including Britain, rose 12.4
per cent with China and India doing very well as reported.
On the European front, the group said that sales had held up well in France,
rising by 5 per cent and ?157million in sales.
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