Cantrell & Cochrane, until yesterday wholly-owned by Allied Domecq, is one of Ireland's largest drinks companies, with an enviable profits record going back many years. It also has a wide portfolio of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks brands, with alcoholic drinks accounting for just over two-thirds of sales.

The group has not revealed its full results for the year to the end of last August - a decision driven by the ongoing discussions on selling the group by Allied Domecq. But Allied Domecq revealed in its statement yesterday that sales probably rose from £366 million (#465 million) in 1997 to over £389 million (494 million) last year, with operating profits up from £49.1 million (62.3 million) to £52.1 million. The 1998 results are expected to be released next week.

So what has driven the extraordinary growth of C&C in recent years? Quite simply, the group has benefited on the home market from the huge increase in disposable income that the economic boom has brought about. The boom in the pub business is another major factor that boosts all drinks groups, while the buoyancy of the tourist industry has also had a positive effect.

In recent years, C&C has looked to expand its international operations and has bought two liqueur companies in Italy. But the group has tried to invest, without success, in eastern Europe by buying drinks companies privatised by governments there.

Now freed from the shackles of competing as part of Allied Domecq, C&C will be able to diversify its search for acquisitions to non-core brands spirits being sold by the major drinks groups as well as by expansion into food distribution.

Ten years ago, when it was jointly owned by Allied Domecq and Guinness, C&C teamed up with Grand Metropolitan to make a hostile bid for Irish Distillers. During that takeover battle, C&C managing director Mr O'Brien made some caustic comments about Irish Distillers and its management. Irish Distillers had the last laugh, however, when C&C was ordered by the European Commission to withdraw from the bidding consortium. Irish Distillers preferred bidder, Pernod Ricard, thus won the battle. Some years later, fences were mended between C&C and Irish Distillers when the two groups agreed to swap some brands, a move that left C&C owning the Tullamore Dew Irish whiskey brand. Tullamore Dew joined an impressive portfolio of spirits brands which included Allied Domecq brands such as Teacher's, Long John, Courvoisier, Beefeater, Canadian Club, Finlandia and Dublin Dry Gin.

C&C's other brands include Irish Mist, Frangelico, Tia Maria, Kahlua, Harvey's sherries and Aperol as well as various ciders, including Bulmer's Strongbow, Linden Village, Old English, Ritz, Stag and Babycham.

The group also distributes various wines through its Grant's subsidiary, including Moreau, Calvet, Jadot, Antinori, Rosemount, Hugel, Goldener Oktober, Glen Ellen and Cockburn's port.

Its portfolio of non-alcoholic brands includes Club soft drinks and mixers, Schweppes mixers, the various Pepsi products, Britvic, TK, Cidona and Madison, as well as Ballygowan and Volvic spring waters.