Jameson sales grow by 15%

Worldwide sales of Jameson Irish Whiskey grew by 15% last year, with parent group Pernod Ricard enjoying a record performance from its portfolio of premium brands.

Jameson is included in the French drinks giant’s collection of 14 leading brands — which, together, make up 60% of its overall revenues.

Of those brands — which also include the likes of The Glenlivet, Martell, Absolut, Chivas Regal, Havana Club, Beefeater, and Ballantine’s — Jameson currently ranks fifth, with 3.9m cases selling in the group’s most recent financial year, up to the end of June.

The brand remains the number one selling whiskey product in Ireland but Pernod noted that overall combined sales of spirits in the Irish on-trade/pub sector fell by 7% in the year to the end of June.

On a group-wide basis, Pernod reported annual sales of just over €8.2bn — up by 7% on the previous 12 months — with net profits up by 9% to just under €1.2bn. Organic growth was evident in all of its international territories, bar its home region of France, but overall the year’s performance marked Pernod Ricard’s strongest growth for four years.

Chief executive Pierre Pringuet said the good results reflected the group’s strategy of geographic expansion and investment in its brands.

“Despite the economic uncertainty, we’re confident in the group’s ability to deliver solid growth this year as well,” he said.

In a series of management appointments — partially prompted by the recent death of former chairman Patrick Ricard — Mr Pringuet was given the dual role of vice-chairman.

Daniele Ricard has been appointed group chairman, but perhaps most notably, Alexandre Ricard — former chief executive of Irish Distillers — has been named deputy chief executive, with the board’s intention being him taking on the dual roles of chairman and chief executive in 2015.