Global sales of Jameson grow 17%

Global sales of Jameson Irish Whiskey grew by 17% year-on-year during the first quarter of its parent’s current financial year.

French drinks group Pernod Ricard yesterday reported total annualised sales growth of 11% — from €1.99bn to €2.2bn — for the three months to the end of September and said it was targeting 6% sales growth for the full year to the end of next June.

“In a less favourable macro-economic environment, we realised a good overall performance in the first quarter,” chief executive Pierre Pringuet said.

Through its control of Irish Distillers, Pernod owns Irish brands such as Jameson, Power’s Whiskey, and Cork Dry Gin.

Jameson is ranked in the French group’s list of 14 leading brands — meaning it, alongside the likes of Martell and Absolut, helps contribute 60% of overall group revenues.

Jameson’s 17% first-quarter sales growth follows a global sales increase for the brand of 15% for last year as a whole.

Jameson is Pernod Ricard’s fifth biggest brand, with 3.9m cases of the product selling globally during the group’s most recent financial year, up to the end of last June.

However, France was one of the worst-performing markets for Pernod Ricard in its first quarter; sales fell 6% across western Europe as a whole. But growth was evident in eastern Europe, Asia (China and India both showed year-on-year sales rises of 18%), and the US.

Sales grew by 14% on an annualised basis in the Americas (taking in the US, Mexico, and parts of South America) during the first quarter to €579m — mainly driven by The Glenlivet, Jameson, and Perrier-Jouët champagne.

Ricard and Mumm champagne were the only Pernod Ricard brands to show sales declines (down 13% and 6%, respectively) during the current period under review.