Guinness drives double-digit growth as Diageo reports modest overall rise
The drinks group Diageo reported a 1.2% lift in sales to $4.9bn (£3.63bn) for the three months to 30 September 2026, with Guinness among its strongest performers. Guinness posted double-digit growth in Africa and in German-speaking Europe, and sales also climbed by double digits in the United States. The stout showed particularly strong gains across Asia Pacific, notably Southeast Asia and Australia. In contrast, beer sales in Great Britain and Ireland slipped by a low-single-digit percentage, a trend Diageo linked to unusually hot weather and heightened competition. The quarterly numbers come after Diageo’s full-year results published in August, when Guinness continued to outperform the wider beer market and gained share in UK pubs despite a dip in group sales. Beyond beer, Diageo reported 2.4% growth in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, while North America declined by 3.6% amid challenging market conditions. Growth was recorded across its whisky portfolio and Smirnoff RTD products. Sir Dave Lewis, Diageo chief executive, said overall Q1 was in line with expectations and the group had reiterated its full-year guidance, describing the results as a small step in the right direction given ongoing pressures in the global drinks market. Source: The Morning Advertiser
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