Imperial Tobacco, the UK-based parent of the John Player brand, has posted a broadly flat performance for the 12 months to September 30, according to accounts filed this morning.
Net revenue from its tobacco business was £7.007 billion for the year, a -1% drop at constant currency rates on last year (£7.005 billion). Its total adjusted operating profits stood at £3.180 billion, a 1% rise on last year (£3.161 billion).
Imperial Tobacco's 'Growth Brands' portfolio, which includes John Player, as well as Davidoff, Gauloises and L&B, saw its share rise by 30 basis points in the period, and net revenue up by 2%.
John Player was cited as "key" to the performance of its Growth Brands portfolio, according to chief executive Alison Cooper (pictured), with the brand "performing exceptionally well in both the EU but also in Australia and New Zealand. Davidoff and Gauloises are performing well in markets such as Germany, Russia, Turkey and Algeria."
Cooper also noted that revenue was up in its Australian business, despite the introduction of plain packaging legislation there last year. "Australia is particularly pleasing because this is our first year since the plain packaging was introduced and we’re growing share, we’re growing revenue, we’re growing profits," she said. "Excellent performance from the Australian team."
© 2013 - Checkout Magazine by Stephen Wynne-Jones
