Pernod sales up 8% to €1.6bn

FRENCH drinks giant, Pernod Ricard, which formally took control of rival Allied Domecq on Tuesday, has reported good sales across its various regions in its first half-year.

In the first half of 2005 organic growth of 9.4% has been achieved with “remarkable performances for Asia and the Americas”, the group said.

From an Irish perspective the performance of Jameson has been particularly gratifying. The French group decided to make Jameson one of its major international brands after it acquired Irish Distillers in 1988.