Bruce: “Brown Spirits Holding Up Better”

Dear Client:Third quarter organic net sales were down -11% on a comparable basis for Fortune Brands, reflecting flat sales for the company’s spirits business. Comparable net sales for spirits declined--4%. "Spirits sales were flat in the quarter, benefiting from higher sales of Jim Beam bourbon and Canadian Club whisky, the Cruzan acquisition, and strong growth in emerging markets, offset by soft results in other international markets," said Fortune Brands chief Bruce Carbonari. THE STATE OF BEAM’S SPIRITS BIZ: Craig Omtvedt,