Pernod Ricard ‘s first-half results – Preview

On Thursday, Pernod Ricard will report its half-year results. Here, just-drinks takes a look at the company’s performance in the three months to the end of December:

• At the start of October, Pernod relaunched Beefeater Crown Jewel in the on-trade as a “thank you” to bartenders who lobbied the company for the 50% abv gin’s return
• In mid-October, the company announced several changes to its global marketing team as part of its “internal promotion and mobility policy”
• Towards the end of the month, the company reported its Q1 sales figures, crediting the US with driving an increase in sales
• In a conference call following the results, Pernod said its Absolut brand was on course to stablise in the US despite continued double-digit sales falls for flavours
• At the end of October, the group’s GH Mumm Champagne brand announced its sponsorship of the FIA Formula E Championship – the world’s first all-electric racing series
• In November, the company teamed up with DJ David Guetta to release a YouTube video clip featuring GH Mumm
• Speaking to analysts at The IWSR’s ‘Forecasting the Future’ seminar in December, CEO Alex Ricard said that Millennial consumers will play a major role in the changing landscape for the spirits industry in the years to come

Q1 highlights

• First-quarter sales rose by 3% to EUR2.22bn (US$2.52bn)
• 1% to 3% lift in FY operating profits forecast

FY highlights

• Full-year net profits fell by 14% to EUR880m (US$1.01bn)
• Net sales in 12 months to end of June rose by 8% to EUR8.56bn – +2% in organic terms
• Reported operating profits increased by 9% to EUR2.24bn, up by 2% organically

Sign up for our daily news round-up!

Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights.

Sign up