GUINNESS sales are up - but drinks giant Diageo has posted a fall in pre-tax profits in the north.
Diageo Northern Ireland reported pre-tax profits of £2.7m for the year to last June, a fall of almost £300,000 from 2015.
The company also recorded a drop in turnover from £122m to £111 in the same 12 months.
Within the latest figures, sales of beer continue to account for a large proportion of turnover, with the £84.2m bolstered by a strong Guinness performance, which saw a 4 per cent sales increase on the island of Ireland.
The marketing and selling of spirits accounts for £26.8m of the overall turnover as Diageo looks to re-focus its efforts on the industry by investing €25 million in its new Irish whiskey brand , Roe & Co, details of which were released in January.
In the north, Diageo employed 142 people over the year, including part-time employees, a slight drop on 2015 (145), while the total wage bill, including pensions and social security, rose by over half a million to £6m.
Speaking about the overall Irish sales figures country director Oliver Loomes said Guinness continued to be the standard bearer for the company, noting a 4 per cent increase in sales worldwide.
"On the island of Ireland Guinness net sales were up 4 per cent, driven by the continued successful innovations launched through ‘The Brewers Project’," he said.
"Apart from Ireland, Guinness also gained share and increased net sales in Great Britain."
"Diageo Ireland continued the momentum it had built in the first half of the year to close with a strong result, made possible by the amazing campaigns and activations that were carried out by our brilliant teams," Mr Loomes added.
