Stock Spirits announces ‘satisfactory’ 2018 trading update

Stock Spirits has reported a “satisfactory” start to its 2018 trading year, however the group’s key Polish market remains “highly competitive” with “significant ongoing price pressure”.

Stock Spirits’s performance in Poland and Czech Republic was boosted by the timing of Easter

The Central and Eastern European drinks group reported a “slight increase” in its first quarter sales in Poland, with value up by +1.2% and volume up +1.1%.

In the Czech Republic, the company witnessed volume growth of +8% and value growth up +11.3% during the same period.

In both markets, this growth was partly attributed to the timing of Easter this year.

The group also noted a growth in the flavoured vodka market, which offset a decline in the vodka market. Stock Spirits said it “continues to monitor and position it’s pricing accordingly across its product range”.

The company’s largest volume brand Żołᶏdkowa de Luxe vodka relaunched in April and has shown “encouraging” results.

The Czech business delivered MAT volume share growth from 34.1% to 36.2%, since the end of March 2018. MAT value share growth was reported up from 32.2% to 33.3%. The growth was driven by the distribution brand portfolios of Diageo and Beam Suntory, the launch of Black Fox and Božkov Republica brands, and its Pražská, Nordic Ice and Dynybyl brands.

The company will release interim results on Wednesday 8 August 2018.