Pernod Ricard, which owns Irish Distillers, today lifted its full-year sales target as it posted a 7.3% rise in first-half net sales, helped by solid revenues from luxury and prestige brands.
Irish Distillers said sales of Jameson whiskey jumped 18% in the six months.
Jameson saw sales jump 82% in Russia, 46% in South Africa and 18% in the United States in the six months. The company said Jameson is the fastest growing international spirit brand in the world.
Irish Distillers CEO Paul Duffy said the company affirmed its leadership in the spirits and wine category in the Irish market, performing well in the Christmas period.
Overall, the world's second biggest wines and spirits group saw net sales in the six months to the end of December rise to €3.507 billion.
Pernod said its interim sales performance allowed it to upgrade its full-year revenue target in spite of a less favourable comparison basis in the second half.
It said it now expected net organic sales growth of more than 6% compared to an October forecast of full-year net organic sales growth at the upper end of a 4-6% range.
