Distil Regulatory News (DIS)

22 Apr 2005 07:00

Blavod Extreme Spirits PLC22 April 2005 Blavod Extreme Spirits plc ("the Company" or "Blavod") Trading Update Blavod Extreme Spirits plc (L.BES) is issuing this trading update to coincidewith the completion of the Company's fiscal year-end. When it announces auditedresults in late June, 2005, the Company expects to report that case shipmentsduring the fiscal year to 31 March 2005, will slightly exceed the market'sexpectations. This will represent an approximate increase of 114% on ayear-on-year basis. The Company's UK shipments advanced with Blavod Black Vodka volumes 23% ahead ofthe same period last year. As in past periods, growth continued to be led bythe top three multiple supermarket customers where volume increased almost 22%ahead of last year. Other brands in the UK portfolio, including those in theBabco line, recorded strong case sales increases on a year-on-year basis.Similarly, Blavod Black Vodka shipments in the US continue to be veryencouraging having trebled on a year-on-year basis. The repackaged Players Extreme line of infused vodkas and rums continued topropel sales in the US market and represent the largest percentage of salesincreases in the US, while the Company's Italian wine project gained furtherinroads in additional areas of the country. Group turnover is expected to be broadly in line with expectations. However,lower marketing costs and tighter control of working capital, will create asignificantly larger cash balance than the market expected at year-end. In addition, the Company continues to identify new sales opportunities which arevery encouraging for the remainder of the 2005 calendar year and beyond. Jeffrey Hopmayer, Chief Executive of Blavod Extreme Spirits plc, commented: "I am delighted with the progress we have made as a public company both in termsof financial performance and strategic development. Strong trading,particularly in the second half of our fiscal year, together with the creationof our wine division in the US, provides a tremendous platform and momentum fororganic growth in the future." Blavod Extreme Spirits, plc (BES.L), established in 2003, is a London-based andpublicly traded company, with U.S. subsidiary offices, Blavod Extreme SpiritsUSA, Inc., headquartered in Franklin, Tenn. In addition to Blavod Black Vodka,the Company's portfolio includes the award-winning Players Extreme linefeaturing Five Times Distilled Vodka along with intensely infused Green Apple,Cherry, Lemon, Mandtango (mandarin/tangerine) and Caramel vodkas. The PlayersExtreme brand also offers flavor-infused rums - Banana, Coconut and Mango. TheCompany also represents a wine portfolio in the US, including Italian estates,Baroncini and Bruno Rocca, among others. Agency brands represented in the UK,include the Babco brand of products For more information on Blavod Extreme Spirits, log on to: www.blavodextreme.comwww.playersextreme.comwww.blackvodka.comwww.blavod.com Further details:Cardew Group Tim Robertson 020 7930 0777Blavod Extreme Spirits Jeff Hopmayer 001 615 771 9111 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange