Guinness maker Diageo takes hit after big drop in China demand

Of 250 visits by potential overseas investors in the first six months of this year, Dublin accounted for 144 of them. Photo: Jelle van der Wolf

Ailish O'Hora

GUINNESS maker is the latest drinks firm to take a hit in China after the company said this market was the main driver of a weakness across its emerging markets performance.

The company, which also reported a drop in Irish sales, said net profit was down to £2.25bn for the year ended June, compared with £2.45bn a year earlier.