Ballygowan pours water on Britvic Irish revenues

Lower sales of Ballygowan bottled water, and a continued fall in the sale of third-party alcohol brands to pubs drove a 1.6% drop in annual revenues at the Irish division of British drinks group Britvic.

Britvic Ireland generated revenues of £175.8m (€205.4m) in the 12 months to the end of September; down 1.6% on a constant currency basis from the previous year. The company’s brands include Ballygowan, MiWadi, and Club but it also distributes Pepsi and 7-UP products. A decline in full sugar versions of some of those drinks, in the aftermath of the sugar tax being introduced last year, played a minor role in the overall revenue decline.