C&C sees solid first half results

DRINKS group C&C has reported a solid set of first-half results — including a €5 million year-on-year rise in pre-tax profits — despite tough trading conditions in Ireland and Britain during the second quarter of its financial year.

Pre-tax profit, for the six months to the end of August, amounted to €64.8m (before exceptional items) — up from €58.7m for the same period last year.

After exceptional items are included, the interim pre-tax profit figure rose from €54.8m to €59.7m. First-half operating profit, meanwhile, was up by just under €3m at €62.3m; but group revenue for the period was down by about €40m at €399.3m.