Trading Statement

C&C Group Plc
29 February 2008



                               TRADING STATEMENT

                      FOR THE YEAR ENDING 29 FEBRUARY 2008



                            CCR.I              CCR.L



Dublin, London, 29 February 2008: C&C Group plc ('C&C' or the 'Group'), a
leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of branded beverages in Ireland
and the U.K., today issued the following trading statement for the year ending
29 February 2008. Preliminary results, for the year ending 29 February 2008,
will be announced on 8 May 2008.



Financial Overview

Revenue from continuing operations(i) in the year ending 29 February 2008 is
expected to decline by approximately 9%, compared with 2006/07. The Group's
overall operating margin(ii) is expected to decline by under ten percentage
points for the full year. Finance costs in the period are expected to benefit
from a non-recurring foreign exchange gain of approximately €9m.



The expected performance, which is in line with the guidance given in the
Interim Management Statement issued on 16 January 2008, reflects a decline in
the Cider division, primarily as a result of the loss of market share by Magners
in Great Britain; the impact of poor summer weather; and an increase in
operating and marketing costs.



As a result of increased capital expenditure associated with cider capacity
expansion and investment in working capital, free cash flow for 2007/08 is
expected to be only slightly positive.



Operations

Revenue in the Cider division for the full year is expected to decline by
approximately 10% arising from a volume decline of c. 4% for the Group's Irish
cider brand, Bulmers, and a volume decline of c. 15% for the Group's
international cider brand, Magners.



In an overall Republic of Ireland LAD(iii) market which is estimated to have
declined by one to two percentage points for the period, Bulmers was negatively
impacted by the particularly poor summer weather, when volumes declined by 14%
in the quarter ended 31 August 2007. Over the second half of the year, Bulmers
recovered well with volumes unchanged on the same period last year.



The performance of Magners primarily reflects the impact in Great Britain of a
loss of on-trade market share and the negative carry-over impact of poor summer
weather on recruitment to the premium cider category. This was partially
compensated by the brand's strong off-trade volume growth of c.70% (iv). Magners
underlying(v) volume in Great Britain is estimated to have declined by 28%
overall in the second half year, compared with the same period last year.



Shipment volumes in the Spirits & Liqueurs division are expected to show growth
of 5%, driven by continuing double-digit growth for Tullamore Dew. It is
expected that overall depletions growth will be about 6% for the period.
However, operating profit is expected to decline in 2007/08 partly due to
increased marketing investment in Tullamore Dew.



The Distribution division is expected to show a double-digit decline in revenue
as a result of the loss of the Fosters wine business at the end of the prior
year.



The Group continues to implement the re-organisation and cost reduction
programme, announced on 15 November, 2007. The programme is on track to achieve
the forecast of €10m annualised savings (which are net of underlying raw
material cost inflation) and the overall cost of the re-organisation is expected
to be within the Group's estimate of €15m.



Shareholder Returns

Subject to Board approval, C&C intends to maintain the final dividend at last
year's level of 15 cent per share giving a full year dividend of 27 cent per
share.



C&C is committed to maintaining an efficient capital structure and recommenced
its on market share buyback programme in January 2008. C&C repurchased 17.7m
shares at a cost of €140m in the year ending February 2008.



Outlook

C&C's strategy is to drive growth in the premium cider category through a high
level of consumer advertising in both Great Britain and Ireland. On the basis of
normal summer weather, the Group expects the premium cider category to return to
growth in 2008.



The combination of the Group's re-organisation and cost reduction programme and
a series of marketing initiatives together with the strengthening of C&C's
commercial presence in Great Britain are expected to contribute to an improved C
&C performance in 2008/09. These initiatives include the launch in Great Britain
of draught Magners in May 2008 and in this regard C&C has entered into an
agreement with Coors Brewers for its kegging and distribution.



The new Managing Director for Magners Great Britain, John Holberry, will be
joining C&C on 18 March 2008. John joins the Group from Coors Brewers Limited
where he has been Managing Director, Coors Sales Operations since 2001.



C&C plans to continue its market tests for Magners in Barcelona and Munich in
2008/09. Execution of the tests will be modified to apply the findings from the
2007/08 tests.



The Group's Spirits & Liqueurs division, is expected to deliver growth in 2008/
09 notwithstanding the negative impact of the US Dollar/Euro exchange rate.



In summary, at this early stage, the Group expects modest overall revenue growth
in 2008/09 and some improvement in operating margins. Foreign exchange hedging
is expected to insulate C&C in 2008/09 from the adverse effect of the
deterioration in the Sterling/Euro exchange rate. With a low level of capital
expenditure, free cash flow conversion should improve significantly in 2008/09.



Maurice Pratt, C&C Group CEO, concluded "Our objective in 2008/09 is to
stabilise our financial and market performance, and, through a combination of
management reorganisation, cost reduction and marketing initiatives, to deliver
growth."



A restatement of the segmental analysis showing continuing operations for the
year ended 28 February 2007 is attached.







             (i)      Excluding the Snacks division which was sold in September
2006 and the Soft drinks division which was sold in August 2007

            (ii)      Continuing operations before exceptional items

           (iii)      Long Alcohol Drinks

            (iv)      Source: AC Nielsen, 11 months ended January 2008

             (v)      Adjusted for a pre price increase sell-in in February 2007




Trading Statement -Investor and Analyst Conference Call Details

Maurice Pratt, Group Chief Executive Officer and Brendan Dwan, Group Finance
Director will host a conference call for institutional investors and analysts at
2.30pm (local Irish time) today. Dial in details are available from K Capital
Source on [phone] or c&[e-mail]





Forward Looking Statement

This announcement includes forward-looking statements, including statements
concerning expectations about future financial performance, economic and market
conditions, etc. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are
subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those anticipated.


About C&C Group plc

C&C Group plc is a leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of branded
beverages in Ireland and the UK. C&C manufactures the leading Irish cider brand,
Bulmers, and the premium international cider brand, Magners, for export to the
United Kingdom, the United States and Continental Europe. C&C also exports
spirits and liqueurs, including the premium Irish whiskey brand, Tullamore Dew,
to over 80 international markets.


Investors and analysts               Irish Media                      International Media


Mark Kenny or Jonathan Neilan        Paddy Hughes                     Edward Orlebar or Charlotte
                                                                      Kirkham
K Capital Source                     Drury Communications             M Communications
Tel:        [phone]          Tel:          [phone]    Tel:          [phone]/
Email :c&[e-mail]   Email: [e-mail]      1531
                                                                      Email: [e-mail]
                                                                             [e-mail]











RESTATEMENT

OF SEGMENTAL RESULTS

                        FOR YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2007




                                                                                        Continuing
                                                        Reported         Disposals      Operations
                                                              €m                €m              €m
Revenue

         Cider                                             517.9                 -           517.9
         Spirits & Liqueurs                                 79.1                 -            79.1
         Soft Drinks                                       185.2           (185.2)               -
         Distribution                                      199.2            (57.7)           141.5
                                                           981.4           (269.9)           738.5

Operating Profit

         Cider                                             178.9                             178.9
         Spirits & Liqueurs                                 17.7                              17.7
         Soft Drinks                                        15.3            (15.3)               -
         Distribution                                        0.7               2.3             3.0
         Profit from continuing operations                 212.6            (13.0)           199.6

Operating Profit Margin

         Cider                                                                               34.5%
         Spirits & Liqueurs                                                                  22.4%
         Distribution                                                                         2.1%
                                                                                             27.0%




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange