- Half-year sales increase 15.9% to ZAR20.63bn [US$1.13bn]
- Spirits portfolio sales rise 8% in six months to end of December, wine +7.8%
- ‘Cider & RTDs’ leaps 29.7%
A healthy lift in sales in the second half of last year has masked a consumer shift towards less expensive spirits for Distell.
In results from the six months to the end of December, announced this week, the multi-category group reported a top-line increase of just under 16%. Driving the performance was the ‘Cider & RTDs’ operations, led by cider brand Savanna, which boasted “explosive growth” in the period.
Over in spirits, while sales were up 8% on the corresponding period a year earlier, the South Africa-headquartered company said it has observed "consumers moving towards value categories". Flagship liqueur brand Amarula, meanwhile, grew its sales by double digits.
In its home market, Distell recorded a rise of 13.6% on volumes of +9.7%, although the South Africa performance was skewed by the loss of 25 trading days in the second half of 2021. Outside of Africa, volumes outstripped value, with the former up 39.2% as value sales increased by 25.6%. The international showing was led by Distell's Scotch whisky brands as well as its bulk spirits sales.
Despite stating in August that the planned takeover by Heineken would close by the end of 2022, Distell admitted this week it is still waiting on a ruling from South Africa's Competition Tribunal, which held hearings last month.
Distell's official fiscal H1 results announcement.
What you need to be looking for in your 21st Century beverage packaging – Market Intel
