Heineken sales up 5% as Murphy’s falls

HEINEKEN Ireland has increased sales by volume by 5% despite the introduction of the smoking ban, but the company’s Murphy’s Stout sales fell by 5% in the first half of the year.

And Gallaher, the makers of Benson & Hedges, Silk Cut, Mayfair and Old Holborn tobacco products, revealed yesterday cigarette sales in Ireland have fallen by 7.5% since Health Minister Micheál Martin introduced the smoking ban this year.

Heineken NV, the world’s third-biggest brewer, said first-half profit fell 27% as net income declined to €293 million from €400m a year earlier, when Heineken had a once-off profit of €71m from the sale of its stake in Argentine brewer Quilmes.