PRICE INCREASES AND STRONGER INVESTMENTS BOOST FORTUNE’S SPIRITS

Backed by price increases and new marketing campaigns, Fortune’s wine and spirits business helped offset the negative impact of the U.S. housing sector and is geared for the next quarter. Norm Wesley, chairman and chief of Fortune Brands, said that “as we enter the biggest [fourth] quarter, we feel good about the health of our brands and growth prospects.” In the third quarter, sales were impacted by higher prices on premium wine and spirits brands, favorable mix shift and synergy