DIAGEO today said high-profile advertising helped Guinness to outperform the UK market, as the drinks firm delivered underlying profits growth of 9 per cent.
The maker of Johnnie Walker whisky and Smirnoff vodka said sales of Latin American scotch and beer in Africa were the main growth drivers during the year to June 30, compensating for more sluggish performance in the US and Europe.
Chief executive
Paul Walsh also warned the economic slowdown could see growth fall to 7 per cent during the current year.
He said: "We enter the new financial year facing slowing global GDP growth and more challenging global economic trends, but given the strength and diversity of Diageo's business we believe we can deliver organic operating profit growth for the coming year within our range of 7 per cent to 9 per cent."
Operating profits for the year to June rose 3 per cent to £2.23bn, but were up 9 per cent on an organic basis as previously indicated by the firm. Net sales were 8 per cent ahead at £8.1bn, with international sales up 16 per cent, compared to a rise of 5 per cent in the US and 3 per cent in Europe.
Guinness saw net sales grow 6 per cent over the year as a whole, with half the growth coming from Africa. In Europe volume was flat overall, but net sales were up 2 per cent in the UK and Ireland, and 6 per cent across Europe.
Diageo said the drink's UK performance was helped by the high profile advertising campaign - featuring a giant domino rally in an Argentinian mountain village - and last year's cooler summer.
The firm said of Guinness: "It continued to outperform the category, particularly in the on-trade where it recorded its highest ever share."
Smirnoff and Baileys also did well in the UK, the firm said, with volumes up 10 per cent and 4 per cent respectively.
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