FTSE 350 Review: The drinks brands likely to grow in a struggling market

The year got off to a difficult start for some beverage giants, as China began an anti-dumping probe into brandy imported from the EU that hurt the share prices of companies including Pernod Ricard (FR:RI) and Remy Cointreau (FR:RCO).

China is far from the only market that will cause issues for alcohol sellers as 2024 progresses. While Diageo (DGE) isn't directly exposed to this latest cognac trouble, it has plenty of things to worry about in other locales. The Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff owner is under the microscope after it said in November that operating profit growth would slow due to visibility issues over distributor inventory levels in Latin America, where sales are expected to plunge. New chief executive Debra Crew also has demand headwinds to contend with in North America, Diageo’s biggest market. Analysts expect the company's sales to fall there this year.