Press releases
09/02/2001 : 2000 sales : increase of 22%
Pernod Ricard
2000 sales : increase of 22%.
Strong organic growth for spirits and wines (+6.2%) ;
Estimated pre-tax +7% ; net profit down due to non-recurring exceptional charges.
Paris 09/02/01 - For the fiscal year 2000, Pernod Ricard sales excluding duty and taxes totalled 4.4 billion euros, a growth of 22%. Organic growth was 6%. Agros was consolidated for the first time and this, with acquisitions by BWG, increased the perimeter of consolidated sales by 11.9%. The Group benefited from currency gains (+4.1%). Sales generated outside of France represented 77% of total.
Activity by sector
-Spirits and wines:
Pernod Ricard's core business showed a 12% increase in sales, including strong organic growth (+6.2%). This increase was mainly due to the Group's development in Europe, outside of France, and in the rest of the world.
Total volumes of wines and spirits increased by 3% compared to 1999. The ten key brands (representing 70% of sector contribution) increased sales by 6%, continuing the trend already observed during 1st half.
In France, the Group saw a strong increase in whiskies (Campbell +18%, Jameson +25%, Aberlour +20%, Paddy +12%), clear spirits (Havana Club, Larios, Wyborowa, Zubrowka) as well as the lychee liqueur Soho (+29%).The anis sector declined by 2%, but Ricard and Pastis 51 outperformed the market and gained 1% share.
Better results however were generated outside France. In Europe in particular, increased sales were reported in Spain for Jameson (+34%), in Italy for Havana Club (+32%) and Larios (+42%) and in Germany where Ramazzotti continued its progression (22%) as did Havana Club, (+29%).
In the rest of the world, sales grew by +24.6%. Wild Turkey sales grew by 12% in Japan and 6% in America. In America, Jacob's Creek grew by 70%.
- Fruit processing (fruit preparations, ciders and soft drinks)
Sales results for this activity during 2000 have been mixed. Concerning soft drinks, Orangina performed well, even though penalised by bad weather conditions (+2% in volume). There was a net reduction in cider volumes in France. Sales of fruit preparations in the United Kingdom and Poland declined but in North America and South Africa, they enjoyed a healthy increase. Overall, the sales of the fruit processing sector increased by 25% due to the integration of Agros, but slightly decreased by 1% on a like for like basis.
- Wholesale distribution (Ireland and the United Kingdom)
The sector continued to improve (+35%) and generated strong organic growth in the Group (+13.6%).
Provisional unaudited results
The Group estimates satisfactory growth of pre-tax profit, in the region of +7%. The net profit, however, will be lower than last year due to exceptional and non-recurring items. These include restructuring of spirits and wines activities in China, restructuring of fruit processing in France and a write-down of the value of the Group's investment in Saresco.
Seagram Spirits and wines
The main event for the Group in the year 2000 was the successful conclusion of an offer in common with Diageo Plc for the spirits and wines businesses of Seagram.
Pernod Ricard and Diageo are currently progressing the filing of papers with anti-trust authorities.
For further information please contact
Alain-Serge Delaitte - tel 00 33 1 40 76 77 12
Website http://www.pernod-ricard.com
APPENDICES
Key consolidated figures
| in M Euro | % | |
| Sales exc. duty and taxes to 31st December 1999 | 3,590 | |
| Organic growth | 216 | +6% |
| Perimeter of consolidation | 429 | +12 % |
| Currency gain | 148 | +4 % |
| Total variation | 793 | +22% |
| Turnover exc. duty and taxes to 31st December 2000 | 4,383 |
| Sales (exc. D&T) (in M EUR) | 2000 | 1999 | 2000/1999 | Of which organic growth |
| Wines and spirits | 1,759 | 1,568 | +12% | + 6.2% |
| Fruit processing | 1,361 | 1,084 | +26% | - 0.9% |
| Distribution | 1,263 | 938 | +35% | +13.6% |
| Total | 4,383 | 3,590 | +22% | + 6.0% |
Geographical distribution of spirit and wine sales
| Sales (exc. D&T) (in M EUR) | 2000 | 1999 | 2000/1999 |
| France | 509 | 500 | +2%% |
| Europe (without France) | 761 | 675 | +13% |
| Rest of the world | 489 | 393 | +25% |
| Total | 1,759 | 1,568 | +12% |
2000 volumes
| 10 key brands | Ist half 30/06/00 | Full Year 31/12/00 | |
| Jacob's Creek | +9% | +19 % | |
| Amaro Ramazzotti | +8% | +14% | |
| Amaro Ramazzotti | +8 % | +14 % | |
| Clan Campbell | +20 % | +13 % | |
| Havana Club | +10 % | +12 % | |
| Wild Turkey | +8 % | +7 %(1) | +10 % excl.Duty free |
| Jameson1 | +2 % | +7 % | |
| Larios | +5 % | +2 % | |
| Ricard1 | +2 % | -1 %(1) | =0% excl. Duty free |
| Pastis 51 | -1 % | -3 % | |
| Bushmills2 | -14% | -10 % | |
| Total for the 10 brands | 4% | +6% |
(1) Jameson and Ricard were the 2 brands most affected by the abolition of intra-European Duty-free sales
(2) US shipments depressed due to impending importer change. Consumer sales remain at a satisfactory level.
