Cider juices up C&C profits
C&C chief executive Maurice Pratt said with alcohol sales in pubs declining by about 3% last year because of the smoking ban, the company was looking to the English market for growth.
"Magners has had a buoyant start to the year in Scotland. We are only in our second year in this market and we are already profitable. So built on this success and following the same formula that worked so well for us in Northern Ireland and Scotland, we launched it in the south-east of England and the London market," Mr Pratt added. The company yesterday reported a 3.5% rise in operating profits for the year to February 28 to €115 million.
