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GUINNESS CONTINUES TO fall out of favour with international drinkers – despite the iconic stout making a comeback at home after half a decade in the doldrums.
Multinational drinks company Diageo, which owns the Guinness brand, today said its worldwide Guinness sales went down 4% for the last six months of last year when compared to the same time in 2013.
The company sold 10 million casks of the Irish stout in 2014, compared to 11.1 million over the 2011-12 financial year.
However Guinness sales in Ireland were up for the first time in more than six years, according to Diageo’s half-yearly update today.
The company’s CEO, Ivan Menezes, said: ”I am pleased that we have returned Guinness to growth (in Ireland) through good execution and the on-trade.”
During the period, the company also launched its Guinness blonde American lager which Menezes said “had a great reception” in the US.
We have also complimented the brand credentials of Guinness with another offering – Guinness 1759, which is focused on the fine dining and gifting opportunity,” Menezes said.
Goodbye Bushmills and other news
Diageo, whose brands also include Johnnie Walker whiskey, Smirnoff vodka and Tanqueray gin, said its total sales and profits were both down when compared to the same period in 2013.
Diageo took in £5.9 billion (€7.9 billion) for an operating profit of £1.67 billion (€2.24 billion) for the six months.
Europe is worth about 25% of the company’s sales with the largest share, 32%, coming from North America, where it sells spirits including the Captain Morgan brand of rum.
The company, which was formed in 1997 when Guinness and UK firm GrandMet merged, offloaded its Bushmills Irish whiskey business in November as part of a swap deal with Mexico’s Jose Cuervo for the Don Julio tequila brand.
Menezes said Bushmills was “a good brand”, but getting rid of it was the “right strategic decision” as it concentrated on fast-growing markets like India.
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Great news they could do with a lot more tri colours up there
The shop in Belfast sells Union Jacks too!
Dont know why I got a load of down arrows. The shop in Belfast does indeed reflect the diversity of the city ie you can buy Union Jacks etc.
Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water there Trap.
Great news, every day another company closes it’s doors and here’s one creating employment!!! Serious negativity going on here! 250 staff that’s quite a few people!
Trap is explaining why he doesn’t try out new young players.
40 shades of tat is sold in that shop. I suppose American tourists and their money are easily parted so fair play them
Who cares what they sell or who they sell to. They employ 250 staff and pay their taxes which is very welcome in this current climate. Well done Carrolls.
Well done Colm Carroll. Great Irish success story now opening in Belfast.
shop is a rip off
Dunphy shows us his recommendation for new Ireland manager.
It’s not Eamon Dunphy.
Or funny.
Was intended to be funny. Never mind. I’ll get my coat.
Well done to all at Carroll’s. A great enterprise and a fantastic story that hard work and dedication really does pay off. The first shop opened in the recession of the 80s. That’s saying something!!!
Fantastic news from a great Irish success story. What’s with negativity folks? Great to have Irish owned business do well here and in the north. Well done to all at Carrolls.
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