Emperador reports 20.6% decline in bottom line

Global liquor-maker Emperador Inc. saw a 20.6-percent year-on-year drop in the first semester net profit to P2.7 billion due to a slowdown in the domestic liquor business.

Emperador reported P18.1 billion in revenue in the first six months, down by 1.4 percent from year-ago revenue which got an extra boost from the presidential election season.

“Domestic liquor consumption was softer in the first six months of this year, but we are hopeful for a better performance in the next six months,” Emperador Inc. president Winston Co said in a statement yesterday.

“We believe the domestic market is going through a transition that offers many interesting opportunities. Meanwhile, we are very keen on bringing new excitement and drinking experience to the consumers. For the first half of this year, the company has committed much resources to bring new exciting products to markets, both in the Philippines and abroad,” Co added.

Emperador, which has a market value of about P122 billion, manufactures, bottles and distributes distilled spirits and alcoholic beverages in the Philippines and Europe. It sells a wide variety of products through its subsidiaries with an international reach of over 100 countries.

The company made its mark through Emperador Distillers Inc. in the Philippines, through Whyte and Mackay Group Ltd. in the United Kingdom and through Bodegas Fundador SLU in Spain. It is part of tycoon Andrew Tan-led conglomerate Alliance Global Group Inc. Now the world’s largest brandy company, Emperador owns Spanish brandy and sherry brands led by the iconic Fundador and Scotch whisky brands led by The Dalmore and Jura. —Doris Dumlao-Abadilla