Lack of sun leaves C&C cider in the shade

Sales of Magners and Gaymers ciders have fallen by 25 per cent in value since the start of March, as the lack of sunshine kept boozers on their winter tipples, the Irish drinks firm C&C said yesterday.

But the company said it will fight back with more promotions and advertising for Magners and a relaunched range of Gaymers fruit ciders, which have sold well in recent weeks. It also saw sales of its Tennent's beers, which it bought from Anheuser-Busch in 2009, rise 30 per cent in Ireland as they were taken up by more pubs.

C&C said it expects operating profits for the full year to come in between €112m (£90m) and €118m. Analysts had been forecasting an average increase from €112m last year to €117.7m.

Across the industry, shop and supermarket sales of cider and other long drinks fell 26 per cent in the UK.