FORTUNE BRANDS SHOW DOUBLE DIGIT GROWTH FOR WINE AND SPIRITS

Fortune Brands’ wine and spirits category showed strong growth along with an overall profit jump of 14% and a 33% rise in sales. The company said it benefited from “the addition and growth of newly acquired spirits and wine brands," which had double-digit sales gains thanks to last year’s acquisition of Allied Domecq brands, including Sauza tequila, Courvoisier cognac, and Maker’s Mark bourbon. Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark sales grew in the double-digits individually.