Diageo Raises a Toast to Success of Smirnoff and Baileys Brands; DRINKS: Company Posts Increase in Half-Year Profits and Says Strong Sales Will Help Offset Tough Economic Conditions at Burger King Chain

DRINKS giant Diageo toasted the ongoing success of its Smirnoff and Baileys brands yesterday as it posted an increase in half-year profits.

The company said strong sales of the two big ticket drinks helped offset tough economic conditions and the ongoing shake-up at Burger King.

Operating profits at Burger King tumbled 29pc in the six months to the end of December as Diageo spent heavily on reviving the chain.

Diageo hopes to separate Burger King from its core drinks business, and said it had begun to see a turnaround at the chain with like-for-like sales on the way up.

But it said the "star performers" in the half-year were its global priority …

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Publication information: Article title: Diageo Raises a Toast to Success of Smirnoff and Baileys Brands; DRINKS: Company Posts Increase in Half-Year Profits and Says Strong Sales Will Help Offset Tough Economic Conditions at Burger King Chain. Contributors: Not available. Newspaper title: Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales). Publication date: February 22, 2002. Page number: 20. © 2009 MGN Ltd. COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group.

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