French firm Pernod Ricard has overtaken Vijay Mallya's United SpiritsBSE 1.81 % to become the country's most profitable spirits marketer last year, thanks to Indian consumers' increasing appetite for premium drinks. The maker of Absolut Vodka and Chivas Regal Scotch whisky crossed the $1-billion sales mark in the country in 2011-12 when its sales rose 34% to Rs 5,941 crore, making India the fourth-largest market for Pernod Ricard. Its net profit soared 77% to Rs 593 crore during the period, according to the Registrar of Companies, where it filed the financial results in January, making India the fifth-largest contributor to the French firm's worldwide profits. In comparison, United Spirits reported a net profit of Rs 343 crore on standalone sales of Rs 7,763 crore last fiscal. On a consolidated basis, United Spirits' sales during the fiscal year 2012 stood at Rs 9,356 crore and net profit amounted to Rs 187.2 crore.

Source - http://economictimes.indiatimes.com