GROWTH of 14% in the sales Jameson Irish whiskey helped drive global sales at Pernod Ricard in the first nine months of its financial year.

French drinks giant Pernod Ricard today agreed a £4.6bn (€5.7bn) deal to buy Absolut vodka maker Vin & Sprit.

IRISH Distillers owner Pernod Ricard, the world’s second-largest wines and spirits group, said because of stronger organic growth it has revised upwards its full-year growth forecast for its current financial year.

A €40 million Jameson Irish whiskey advertising and marketing spend is helping to maintain the brand - associated with both Dublin and Cork - as one of the fastest growing whiskies in the world.

Drinks giant Allied Domecq was today closer to being swallowed by rival Pernod Ricard after regulators in the United States gave the deal the green light.

DRINKS and snack food group C&C could see its profits hit following the takeover by Pernod Ricard of Allied Domecq, whose brands it distributes in Ireland.

Conor Keane, Business Correspondent

Drinks giant Pernod Ricard has announced that sales of Jameson whiskey rose by 11%, in the first nine months of the year.

The Combined General Meeting of Pernod Ricard in Paris today approved the 2003 financial statements and decided on a dividend distribution of € 1.96 per share, an increase of 8.9%.

INTERNATIONAL spirits group Pernod Ricard suffered a sales and profits slump in Ireland last year.

Pernod Ricard, the French drinks giant that owns Irish Distillers, today reported group net profits of €464m for 2003, an increase of 12.3% on the previous year, helped by a capital gain from the sale of bank shares and lower financial charges.

Drinks group Pernod Ricard have reported pre-tax profits of €167m and an increase of 3.7%.

PERNOD Ricard believe sales of Jameson Irish whiskey will double to three million cases in the short term and plan to take on Sminoff-Ice in the ready-to-go drinks market with a new product - Jameson Chill.