Cider brands help C&C to productive period

Irish drinks group C&C toasted the staggering popularity of Magners in the UK today after the summer heatwave helped double profits at its cider arm.

Cider profits soared to €90m in the six months to August after the volume of Magners sold jumped 264%.

It came as the introduction of Magners across the UK following a successful launch in London and Scotland coincided with a sweltering summer.

The roll out was accompanied by a €30m advertising campaign targeting young professionals promoting Magners with ice.

C&C also benefited from a 7% rise in sales of Bulmers.

The popularity of its cider drove C&C revenues 27% higher to €532.1m and operating profits up 66% to €113.5m in the first half of the year.

Chief executive Maurice Pratt said: “C&C expects the strong market performance of its cider division to be sustained in the second half of the year.”