PARIS (Reuters) - French spirits maker Pernod Ricard (PA:PERP) said on Thursday that sales growth slowed slightly in the third quarter, reflecting weakness in India and the earlier timing of the Chinese New year.
Pernod, the world's second-biggest spirits group after Britain's Diageo (L:DGE), kept its profit outlook unchanged and achieved some robust quarterly growth in the United States and in Europe.
Pernod Ricard posted sales of 1.987 billion euros (£1.67 billion) in the three months to March 31, up 3 percent on a like-for-like basis, compared with 4 percent growth in the second quarter.
This was, however, above the average of analysts' estimates for 1 percent growth in a company-compiled consensus.
The owner of Mumm champagne, Absolut vodka and Martell cognac kept its forecast for underlying operating profit growth of between 2 percent and 4 percent in the full year to June 30.
In India, which accounts for about 10 percent of Pernod Ricard group revenue, a government ban on high-value bank notes held back local consumption. There has also been a ban on alcohol sales near highways in India since April 1.