Diageo first-half sales decrease by 5% to £5,060m as operating profits rise

DIAGEO, owners of Guinness and Baileys, struggled in the first half of its financial year.

Weaker markets pushed volume sales of key brands down over the six months ended December 31, 2003.

First-half figures show sales fell 5% to £5,060 million while operating profits rose marginally from £1,100 million to £1,160 million.