Spirits group Pernod Ricard has seen its sales rise by 8% to almost €8.56 billion in the year to the end of June, with the company enjoying growth in most parts of the world.
The group, which the parent of Jameson and Cork Dry Gin-maker Irish Distillers, saw net sales fall by 2% in Europe but rise by 11% and 14% in the Americas and the rest of the world respectively.
The company said its growth was driven by its whiskey brands, with net sales of Jameson up 10% in the period.
Volumes of the Irish whiskey were 9% higher, with 5.1 million nine-litre casks being shipped during the twelve months.
Net sales of Glenlivet whisky were also up, rising 11%, with a 7% increase in volumes to 1.1 million nine-litre casks.
Despite this growth Pernod Ricard has reported a fall in net profit, however, down 14% year-on-year to €880m.
This was largely due to a €404m impairment charge on its popular Absolut vodka brand, which the company said was “driven by lower growth in the US”.
Net sales and volumes of Absolute were flat or slightly negative during the year, though it remains the company’s biggest single product with 11.2 million nine-litre casks being shipped.
