Martell drags Pernod Ricard into negative for half year, outlook bleak for months ahead – results data

Sales in six months to end of December decrease by 4% to EUR6.18bn (US$6.42bn)Final calendar quarter - group's fiscal Q2 - down 3%Martell cognac brand "contributing to circa 90%" of total half-year sales declinePernod Ricard has reported its latest results earlier than expected, prompted by a switch of its near-term guidance to a decline in sales.The group, which was scheduled to announce the figures from the six months to the end of December in a week's time, said today that its top line in fiscal H1 fell 4%. The closing quarter of 2024 (fiscal Q2) improved on the previous three-month period,