Jameson among fastest growing brands

IRISH Distillers said yesterday that its flagship brand, Jameson Irish Whiskey has consolidated its position as one of the world’s fastest growing international spirits brands.

The company’s parent group — Pernod Ricard — yesterday reported financial results for the first half of its current financial year — covering July to December of last year. Overall first-half sales rose, year-on-year, by 7.3% to €3.5 billion. Operating profit was up from €760m to €865m, while diluted earnings per share were slightly down at €5.69c.

While the French group does not break down separate results for its various regional subsidiaries and brands, a spokesperson for Irish Distillers commented yesterday: “Irish Distillers is pleased to confirm that Jameson continues to perform well in world markets.”

During Pernod Ricard’s first half, global sales of Jameson grew by 18% and showed particularly strong growth in markets like Russia, South Africa and the US with global volumes of the product up by 11%. Jameson is distributed in more than 120 countries worldwide.

Irish Distillers is investing €50m in pushing the Jameson brand over the current fiscal year — marking a year-on-year increase of 25% in marketing spend.

With regard to overall group business, Pernod Ricard said, in a statement, yesterday: “All regions contributed to the growth in operating profit from ordinary activities — with a marked improvement both in Europe and in France and the confirmed strong dynamism of the Americas and Asia/Rest of the World regions.”