Q1 FY27 Sales

Net Sales for Q1 FY27 totalled €2,234m. Perimeter impact of -€127m mainly linked to the disposal of Imperial Blue and Wines, and Foreign Exchange impact of -€3m mainly linked to INR and TRY^[1].

Sales in the US declined by -10% and in China by -25%, with both markets being impacted by inventory adjustments, as expected.

Underlying depletions in China returned to growth, confirming the cautious trade optimism ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, as flagged at the full year results.

When excluding the US and China, sales in the Rest of the World are growing at +4%, with strong performance notably in markets in the Asia-Rest of the World region and with softer results in Europe and in Latin America.

The global environment remains volatile and uncertain, notably with ongoing conflicts in Europe and in the Middle East, and with cost-of-living pressures in some markets. Momentum and sales growth is improving in a number of key markets, demonstrating the benefit of our diversified premium brand portfolio, our balanced and broad geographic footprint and our ability to adapt quickly to changing market conditions.

Volumes in Q1 returned to growth at +6%, with Strategic International Brand volumes growing +2%.

By regions, including Must Win markets:

• Americas -9%,
  • USA -10%,
    • Total Spirits Value market down c.-2% and Bottled Spirits c.-4%, with slightly improving underlying trends over the summer
    • Pernod Ricard’s Sell-out gap-to-market slightly improved compared to Q4 FY26 to c.-2 points
    • Sales were impacted by some inventory adjustments, as expected
    • Jameson and Kahlúa sell-out performance ahead of their respective competitive sets, and marked improvement in Skrewball’s performance, and a strong rebound for Malibu
    • Latest innovations include Malibu Pink, Skrewball Peanut Butter & Jelly flavoured whiskey in small format, and extending the range of Jameson Irish whiskey portfolio with Jameson Distiller’s Batch
  • Canada: modest decline with continued but slower RTDs momentum, not fully offsetting pressure on Spirits
  • Brazil: declined, largely due to phasing
  • Mexico: declined sharply, due to continuing weak consumer demand
     

• Asia-RoW +9%,

  • India +19%,
    • Market continues to enjoy dynamic consumer fundamentals, and sales driven by strong demand and continuing premiumisation
    • Growth is broad-based across the portfolio, with Imported spirits in very strong double-digits growth, including Jameson, Absolut and Ballantine’s, and with strong double-digit growth from Seagram’s whiskies Royal Stag and Blenders Pride
    • Continuing positive momentum from the launch of the new “Xclamat!on” range of spirits
    • Strong underlying sales growth with benefit from lapping last year’s excise policy changes in Maharashtra state
    • The company is taking preparatory steps for a potential IPO, which is leading to a favourable pipe-fill effect that is further benefitting sales in Q1
    • The decision to proceed to an IPO remains subject to board approval
  • China -25%,
    • Sales contracted, in a challenging macroeconomic environment, due to trade inventory adjustments
    • Cautious trade optimism ahead of Mid-Autumn Festival is confirmed and reflected in the back to growth underlying depletions, marking a significant improvement from last year’s sharp decline
    • Martell’s Off-trade depletions returned to growth thanks to a successful Mid-Autumn Festival campaign, while the On-trade, though benefitting from the lapping effect, continues to be pressured by the regulatory crack-down
    • Underlying trends for the rest of the portfolio are resilient overall, notably supported by strong performances including on The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Jameson and Olmeca
    • 
      Continued dynamic growth in Japan, return to growth in South Korea and Taiwan market
    • Strong results in Africa and Middle East, led by Türkiye and with a resilient performance in South Africa

   

• Europe -6%,
  • Soft start to the year, impacted by phasing in some markets and continuing pressure in the On-trade
  • Modest declines in some Western markets, while Germany’s sharper decline persists
  • In Eastern Europe, Poland impacted by ongoing customer negotiations
• Global Travel Retail -4%,
  • Sales are impacted by the ongoing Middle East conflict, disproportionately affecting the Asian TR markets, while noting a strong Mid-Autumn Festival promotional program supporting Martell sales
  • Elsewhere, sales in the Americas are negatively impacted by phasing, while sales in Europe are strong, supported by high traveller numbers

By brands:

• Strategic International Brands -1%, with strong momentum for Jameson, Ballantine’s, Malibu and Perrier-Jouët, and more modest growth on Chivas Regal and Royal Salute offset by declines on Absolut and Martell, which is notably impacted by inventory adjustments
• Strategic Local Brands +6%, largely driven by Royal Stag and Blenders Pride, and solid momentum for Olmeca
• Specialty Brands -5%, largely driven by the USA market performance, though with good results from Código and Monkey 47

FY27 OUTLOOK

We are expecting organic Net Sales broadly stable for the full year, in a contrasted and uncertain environment, with:

• Declines in the US and China, impacted by inventory adjustments as from Q1, and with underlying trends expected to improve in China, and
• Continued positive momentum in Rest of World, with ongoing strong growth notably in India.

A&P/Net Sales investment will be maintained at c.16%.

We will strongly defend Organic Operating Margin supported by strict cost control and accelerating the implementation of our Operational Efficiency initiatives whilst investing in digital transformation.

We expect strategic investments at c.€700m, strong operating working capital management, with cash conversion expected to continue at c.90%.

MEDIUM TERM FY27-29

Noting the current softness in the US market, we are projecting Organic Net Sales growth, aiming to be, on average, close to the lower end of the +3% to +6% range over FY27 to FY29.

We expect Organic Operating Margin expansion, supported by accelerated operational efficiencies of €1bn from FY26 to FY28, while maintaining consistent investments behind our brands with c.16% A&P/Net Sales.

We expect strengthened cash generation, aiming for c.90% cash conversion to fund our financial policy priorities, with strategic investments normalizing to no more than c. €700m.

We are targeting Net Debt / EBITDA ratio below 3x by FY29.

We are adapting our strategy to capture growth opportunities, and our operating model to meet changing circumstances including through our ongoing digital transformation to unlock further efficiencies.

We are confident in the continued engagement of our teams and we remain focused to deliver sustainable value growth over time.

^[1] Indian Rupee and Turkish Lira

All growth data specified in this press release refers to organic growth (at constant FX and Group structure), unless otherwise stated. Data may be subject to rounding.

Definitions and reconciliation of non-IFRS measures to IFRS measures
Pernod Ricard’s management process is based on the following non-IFRS measures which are chosen for planning and reporting. The Group’s management believes these measures provide valuable additional information for users of the financial statements in understanding the Group’s performance. These non-IFRS measures should be considered as complementary to the comparable IFRS measures and reported movements therein.

Organic growth
-    Organic growth is calculated after excluding the impacts of exchange rate movements, acquisitions and disposals, changes in applicable accounting principles and hyperinflation.
-    Exchange rates impact is calculated by translating the current year results at the prior year’s exchange rates and adding the year-on-year variance in the reported transaction impact between the current year and the previous year.
-    For acquisitions in the current year, the post-acquisition results are excluded from the organic movement calculations. For acquisitions in the prior year, post-acquisition results are included in the prior year but are included in the organic movement calculations of the current year only from the anniversary date of the acquisition.
-    The impact of hyperinflation on Profit from Recurring Operations in Turkey and Argentina is excluded from organic growth calculations by capping local unit price/cost increases to a maximum of +26% per year, equivalent to +100% over three years.
-    Where a business, brand, brand distribution right or agency agreement was disposed of or terminated in the prior year, the Group excludes the results for that business from the prior year in the organic movement calculations. For disposals or terminations in the current year, the Group excludes the results for that business from the prior year from the date of the disposal or termination.
-    This measure enables users to compare the Group’s performance on a like-for-like basis, focusing on areas that local management is most directly able to influence.

Profit from recurring operations
Profit from recurring operations corresponds to the operating profit excluding other non-recurring operating income and expenses.
 
Cash Conversion
Cash conversion is calculated by dividing the Recurring Operating Cash Flow by the Profit from recurring operations. The Recurring Operating Cash Flow is calculated as the Self-financing capacity from Recurring Operations + Change in Recurring Operating Working Capital needs, Change in Strategic inventories and Cash Capex.

Net Debt / EBITDA
Net debt corresponds to gross financial debt, including IFRS 16 lease liabilities, less cash and cash equivalents. EBITDA corresponds to Profit from recurring operations excluding depreciation, and amortisation on fixed assets. 
The Net Debt / EBITDA ratio is calculated using EBITDA on a last twelve months basis and using Net Debt translated at last twelve months average exchange rates.

Strategic Investments 
Strategic (ageing) Inventories plus Capex