Drinks group Diageo on Thursday January 27 reported first-half sales up nearly 16%, buoyed by high-end spirits for home use while bars increased orders as they reopened after COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdowns.
Share Buyback Programme
The maker of Guinness stout, Johnnie Walker whisky and Tanqueray gin also said that it will speed up its share buyback programme, aiming to complete the £4.5 billion plan in its 2023 financial year rather than by the end of June of 2024.
Shoppers Stocking Up
Diageo, which is the world's largest spirits maker, has benefitted from shoppers stocking up on alcohol at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, often trading up to more expensive types of alcohol.
Premium Products
Sales of premium products made up more than half of net sales.
Bars Buying More
Then as lockdowns eased, particularly in Europe and North America, bars have had to restock, buying more than the previous year. Net sales grew 13% in North America and were up 27% in Europe.
Chief Financial Officer Statement
"The impact that we're seeing from COVID is kind of like 'Whack-a-Mole'. It's different in different parts of the world at different points in time," chief financial officer Lavanya Chandrashekar said. "Where there are no restrictions, we are seeing that on-trade is sometimes even better than people remember.
"But, I mean, the total number of people visiting Thailand has come down significantly, so business there is not doing as well as it was when in the heydays of travel."
Operating Profit, Operating Margin And Net Sales
Operating profit rose by 22.5% to £2.7 billion in the six months to December 31, with its operating margin up by 190 basis points, Diageo said.
Net sales increased by 15.8% to £8 billion.
Remy Cointreau
Europeans Beverages Sector Vs Wider Market
The European beverages sector outperformed the wider market almost uniformly in the fourth quarter, Bernstein analysts said. The distillers led the way while global brewers were more subdued because of rising raw material costs.
Shares
Shares in Diageo have repeatedly touched record highs since the company said in November that it expects organic net sales growth to be between 5% and 7% for its 2023-2025 financial years, against 4% to 6% growth over 2017-2019.
On Thursday January 27, the shares were up marginally at £36.60.
Target Price
Deutsche Bank last week raised Diageo's target price to £46.50 from £45.30.
News by Reuters, edited by Hospitality Ireland. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
