Italian spirits group Campari has posted strong annual results boosted by the success of Aperol.
Aperol, the group’s biggest brand, helped sales reach €1,816 million in 2017 - a rise of 5.2% on the previous year.
Organic growth was solid at +6.3%.
Campari CEO Bob Kunze-Concewitz said the strong full year performance capped off three years of “positive margin momentum” driven by sales of its portfolio in key markets.
Aperol Spritz is one of the company’s global brands along with SKYY vodka, Campari, Wild Turkey, Grand Marnier and the Jamaican rums.
Regional brands include Espolòn, GlenGrant, Forty Creek, Bulldog, Averna, Braulio, Cynar, Frangelico and Cinzano.
Italian aperitif Aperol has seen sales sky-rocket in recent years off the back of the popular cocktail, Aperol spritz, and grew by 19.5% in 2017.
US bourbon Wild Turkey also continued to grow with an organic sales increase of 6.4% while the Campari brand grew 9.8% organically.
Having dropped still wine from its portfolio with the sale of Loire Valley producer Château de Sancerre last June, today the group has two big pillars with bitters and white and dark spirits.
These straddle the Italian side of the business with brands such as liqueur Averna, Cynar, Aperol, Cinzano and Campari and international brands Glen Grant whisky, Wild Turkey Bourbon and SKYY vodka.