Guinness price rises help boost Diageo's overall sales in Ireland

Overall global sales of Baileys liqueur were "flat", despite growth across Europe

Diageo said that overall net sales grew 20% in Ireland, "driven by price increases and volume growth in Guinness".

Diageo's total net sales in Ireland grew 20%, helped by price increases for Guinness, while global sales of Baileys were flat on weaker demand in North America, the spirits and beers giant has said.                     

Global sales rose by 18.4% to £9.4bn (€10.7bn) in the six months to the end of December and "price increases and supply productivity savings more than offset the impact of absolute cost inflation on gross margin", the company said.