Jameson hits The Big Four million
This figure also includes sales of over one million cases to the US alone, the single largest market for the brand.
The announcement marked 23 years of successive growth for Jameson and recent sales figures show volumes up 15 per cent with value up 18 per cent in the year to June 2012.
The US market is showing 29 per cent growth and according to Jameson owners Pernod Ricard, the brand shows double-digit growth in 49 of the 50 states there.
Key markets such as Russia and South Africa, where Jameson is now the second biggest international premium whiskey brand, also enjoyed huge success.
As one of Ireland’s most successful exports, Jameson is playing a key role in the export led recovery of the Irish economy. The whiskey has been distilled in Midleton, Co Cork since 1975 where a recent €100 million investment was made by Irish Distillers to expand the distillery in order to cater for future growth, as it is now operating at full capacity. There is an additional €100 million investment in a new maturation site in Dungourney, Co Cork.
Anna Malmhake, Chief Executive at Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard commented, “To think in 1988 when Irish Distillers joined Pernod Ricard Jameson sold just 466,000 cases globally, with Ireland as its main market. Since then, Jameson has witnessed consistent and sustained investment, with a long-term strategic outlook based on premiumisation and innovation coupled with strong and targeted marketing. The result has been incredible global success with continued growth in over 120 markets. To have reached the four million cases milestone, which equates to over 1.3 billion glasses of Jameson consumed around the world last year, is a true reflection of the growing international success of Jameson and the future potential of the company’s entire Irish Whiskey portfolio.