Gruppo Campari's H1 2017 performance by region - results data

Gruppo Campari has seen a rise in sales and profits for the first six months of 2017

Earlier today, Gruppo Campari reported a lift in sales and profits for the first half of 2017. Here, just-drinks takes a closer look at the company's performance by region: 

• The Americas - 44.5% of total group sales, organic sales +7.6%

Campari's largest market, the US, accounted for 27.6% of total group sales. The US saw organic sales lift 5%, driven by Wild Turkey (+14.6%) and Italian brands Aperol (+42.1%) and Campari (+15.6%).

Tequila brand Espolon continues double-digit growth, the company said. Meanwhile, Skyy continues to be impacted by a competitive environment and weakness in the flavoured vodka segment. 

Elsewhere in The Americas region, organic sales in Jamaica lifted 10.7% thanks to rum - in particular Wray & Nephew Overproof - and also brand Campari. Organic sales in Brazil shot up 29% on an easy comparison base. "Whilst macroeconomic conditions remain fragile, the Brazilian brands as well as Skyy, Aperol and Campari grew positively," the company said. Argentina saw a 3.1% organic sales lift driven by Skyy and Cynar as well as Aperol. Organic sales in Canada were up 8.1% in the period, thanks to Forty Creek, Skyy, Aperol and Campari. Mexico saw double-digit sales growth, boosted by a good performance of Skyy ready-to-drink, the Jamaican rums, Aperol and Campari.

• Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa - 30.6% of total group sales, organic sales +2.8%

Organic sales in Italy lifted 1.4%, boosted by the second quarter and the timing of Easter. Aperol was up 10.9% while Campari, Braulio, Zedda Piras as well as the Freedea soft drink range registered positive performances in the half. The other markets in the region gave a strong performance overall, thanks to Bulldog and Campari in Spain, Aperol and Wild Turkey in South Africa and Aperol and Campari in France. Meanwhile socio-economic instabilities continued to hamper the Nigerian market. 

Global Travel Retail saw net sales slip 5.8%. Gruppo Campari said one-offs in the second quarter "negatively impacted the first half result, despite the strong performances of Aperol, Bulldog and GlenGrant".

• North, Central and Eastern Europe - 18.6% of total Group sales,  organic sales +13.8%

Germany was "slightly down" owing to weakness in agency brands and sparkling wines. However, Campari flagged a near-20% boost for Aperol and a 12.8% lift for Averna as well as growth in Frangelico, Wild Turkey Bourbon and Bulldog in the market. The firm's turnaround in Russia continued as it registered an organic sales increase of 111.7% with triple-digit growth in Mondoro and Cinzano sparkling wines, and double-digit gains for Cinzano vermouth. However, Campari expressed caution in the market in terms of the competitive environment and the local macro-economic environment.

Other markets in the region saw organic sales rise 20.4%, driven by Aperol, Campari, the Jamaican rums, Wild Turkey, Bulldog and GlenGrant in the UK; Aperol, Bulldog and Crodino in Belgium and the Polish and Czech markets. 

• Asia Pacific - 6.3% of total Group sales, organic sales +2.8%

Organic sales were down 2.7% in Australia owing to weakness in the Wild Turkey RTD portfolio and Wild Turkey Bourbon. The company flagged positive results from Aperol, Espolòn and GlenGrant in the market.

Other markets in Asia Pacific registered an overall organic sales lift, driven by China and Japan. The company flagged positive sales for Wild Turkey Bourbon, Campari, Skyy, Aperol and Cinzano sparkling wines in Japan. In China, the firm hailed the strengthening of its distribution agreement with Camus as well as growth for Skyy and GlenGrant, albeit from a small base.