Strong performance driven by our brands, our markets and our people
Results summary
- 3% volume growth. Price increases together with mix benefits drove 7% organic net sales growth
- 9% organic operating profit increase
- 4 percentage points of price/mix drove organic gross margin improvement of 70 basis points
- Marketing was up 10% on an organic basis with 20% growth in emerging markets and 8% growth in North America
- Delivered overhead savings in Western Europe and reduced corporate costs
- Organic operating margin expansion of 60 basis points
- eps pre-exceptional items up 16% to 55.9 pence per share
- Interim dividend increased by 7% to 16.60 pence per share
Paul Walsh, Chief Executive of Diageo, commenting on the six months ended 31 December 2011
"Diageo has delivered a solid and well balanced first half performance with 9% operating profit growth and 60 basis points of operating margin expansion.
This is the result of the investments we have made to build our brands, deepen our routes to market in the faster growing markets of the world, enhance our leadership in US spirits and create an integrated organisation in Western Europe. In an uncertain economic environment we have again demonstrated the benefits of our geographic diversity and brand range.
Our emerging market business grew net sales 18% and operating profit 23% and now accounts for almost 40% of our business. Our performance improved in our developed markets business and we delivered top line growth and operating margin expansion while marketing as a percent of net sales increased.
Globally Johnnie Walker grew 15%, Smirnoff returned to growth, Guinness grew 5% and our reserve brand portfolio grew 25%. Our strategic brands grew 8% and the strongest performing categories were scotch, up 14% and vodka, up 13% while our beer brands delivered 7% organic net sales growth.
We are cautious as to the consumer and economic trends we will face in 2012 but these first half results have positioned us well and they have demonstrated that Diageo has the brands, the routes to market and the people to deliver our medium term guidance. The increase of 7% in the interim dividend signals our confidence that we are making a strong business stronger."