Jameson toasts sales of 2.7 million cases worldwide

Figures released today show that the sales of Jameson Whiskey, made in Midleton, continue to soar worldwide.

Sales increased by 12% in the 12 months to the end of June.

This was double-digit growth, matched only by sales of Martell brandy, which also recorded a similar growth.

But it is believed that Jameson sales dipped here in the third quarter of the year, but on a worldwide basis continued to show strong growth.

The whiskey sold about 2.7 million cases in the 12 months to the end of June 2009. The plan is now to raise that figure to three million cases.

The whiskey brand and Martell are amongst the company’s top 14 brands, identified by the company as the main drivers of its worldwide success.

The firm is now planning to build a new warehouse at Dungourney to cater for its extra storage needs because of the success of the brand.

The land for the site was previously owned by Coillte.

Pernod Ricard, which bought Irish Distillers in 1988, said that group operating profit for the 12 months was €1.795bn.

Also today fresh fruit and vegetable importer Total Produce said that profits before tax rose by 5.5% to €21.7m for the first half of the year.

Revenues at the group rose by 1.7% for the six-month period to June to €1.33bn.

It was a sluggish start to the year, said chairman Carl McCann who described the performance as solid.

“After a slow start to the year due to unusually cold weather throughout Europe, demand for the group’s produce recovered, with it also benefiting from favourable currency translation movements,” he said.