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.

Richard Burrows, Pernod Ricard’s Irish-born joint managing director, said yesterday the Irish brand is the “fastest” growing whiskey in the US and is at this stage also among the group’s top four global selling brands.

Mr Burrows was chief executive of Irish Distillers when Pernod took over the business back in 1988 and recently took up an additional role as governor, or non-executive chairman, of Bank of Ireland.

He noted with satisfaction that Allied Domecq was one of three British groups that combined to buy the Irish whiskey maker at the time, but was beaten off by the French group.

Excluding duties and taxes Pernod reported an 8% rise in sales to €1.6 billion from €1.5bn in the first half of 2004.

Mr Burrows said the figures show a good spread of sales across global markets.

France, the core market, chipped in €268m; the rest of Europe €627m; the Americas €347m and Asia €406m during the period.

China in particular, was singled out by Mr Burrows because sales are running 40% ahead of this time last year.

The Chinese 25-40-year-olds are taking to Chevas Regal in a big way, he said.

Pernod Ricard will double its size when Allied’s sales are added to the operation, Mr Burrows said.

With Allied on board, Pernod now accounts for 20 of the top drinks’ brands in the world.

Apart from Jameson and Chevas Regal, other key brands include Martell, Glenlivet and Wild Turkey.