Diageo sales lose fizz

14th Oct 2009 10:23

Shares in alcoholic drinks giant Diageo fell after the firm said sales in the three months to September 30 fell by 6% from the same period the previous year.'As we anticipated consumer trends across our markets remain broadly unchanged since the year-end,' said chief executive Paul Walsh. 'Therefore net sales in the first quarter of the new financial year have been weak when compared to the strong performance of the first quarter last year.'He said the year had started as expected and added that the company, whose brands include Smirnoff vodka, Johnnie Walker whisky and Guinness, reiterated its guidance for low single digit organic growth in the operating profit for fiscal 2010.