Trading Statement

Trading Statement

C&C Group PLC

Trading Statement

C&C Group plc (‘C&C’ or the 'Group’), a leading, vertically integrated premium drinks company which manufactures, markets and distributes branded beer, cider, wine, spirits and soft drinks across the UK and Ireland, today provides an update on trading performance to date, in the period following our H1 FY2023 results announced on 27 October 2022.

As outlined in H1 FY2023 results, our outlook for H2 noted a potential significant impact from the continuing cost of living pressures facing consumers. Despite year-on-year net revenue growth of c.20% in the key trading month of December 2022, we now expect the Group’s full year operating profit range for FY2023 to be €84-88m.

We believe consumer spending pressure is a driver behind this trading performance and will continue to be so in the near-term. Further, trading has been significantly impacted by rail network strikes in the UK, reducing footfall in urban areas⁽ⁱ⁾ over the key festive trading period.

Despite the near-term challenges, the Group will continue to operate well within its stated leverage range (less than 2.0x) and this coupled with our strong free cash flow generation will ensure that our stated capital allocation objectives are maintained. C&C will continue to review and drive efficiencies throughout our business while ensuring we deliver a market leading offering to our customers and consumers.

(i)	UKHospitality: Booking cancellations across the sector over the festive period at approximately -30% for the period with walk-ins –28% vs 2019

ENDS

Contacts

C&C Group plc
Patrick McMahon, Chief Financial Officer
Ewan Robertson, Finance and Investor Relations Director
Email: [e-mail]

UK & International Media
Richard Hayhoe
Email: [e-mail]

Investors, Analysts & Irish Media
FTI Consulting
Jonathan Neilan / Paddy Berkery / Aline Oliveira
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

About C&C Group plc

C&C Group plc is a leading, vertically integrated premium drinks company which manufactures, markets and distributes branded beer, cider, wine, spirits, and soft drinks across the UK and Ireland.

• C&C Group’s portfolio of owned/exclusive brands include: Bulmers, the leading Irish cider brand; Tennent’s, the leading Scottish beer brand; Magners the premium international cider brand; as well as a range of fast-growing, premium and craft ciders and beers, such as Heverlee, Menabrea, Five Lamps and Orchard Pig. C&C exports its Magners and Tennent’s brands to over 40 countries worldwide.
• C&C Group has owned brand and contract manufacturing/packing operations in Co.Tipperary, Ireland and Glasgow, Scotland.
• C&C is the No.1 drinks distributor to the UK and Ireland hospitality sectors. Operating through the Matthew Clark, Bibendum, Tennent’s and Bulmers Ireland brands, the Group has a market leading range, scale and reach including an intimate understanding of the markets it serves. Together this provides a key route-to-market for major international beverage companies.

C&C Group is a FTSE 250 company headquartered in Dublin and is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Note regarding forward-looking statements

This announcement includes forward-looking statements, including statements concerning current expectations about future financial performance and economic and market conditions which C&C believes are reasonable. However, these statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those factors discussed in our FY2022 Annual Report that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230112005851/en/