Business

Growth cheers drinks firm

Bulmers and Magners cider firm C&C reaffirmed its guidance for double-digit growth in operating profit in the current financial year, with trading over the third quarter "resilient" in its core markets in Ireland and Ccotland. But the group said trading remained "challenging" generally across the UK, where cider sales were broadly flat. The Irish-owned firm is predicting double-digit growth to between €125m (£104m) and €132m (£110m). In a statement it said: "We have made excellent progress developing our multi-beverage capability in the republic of Ireland and Tennent's UK. "solid earnings growth and cash generation in both of these businesses provides a degree of balance to a more competitive uK cider market."