Ireland was one of the top performing markets for Coca-Cola HBC, according to the company's preliminary results for 2000. Coca-Cola HBC is the world's second-largest "anchor bottler" of the Coca-Cola Company. Among its established markets, where volumes rose by 2 per cent in 1999, the strongest growth came in Ireland, Greece and Switzerland, the company said. "Ireland as a total business showed strong volume growth of 5 per cent on top of 12 per cent growth in 1999 as the changing political situation in Northern Ireland had an effect on purchasing," it added.

The Ireland figures for 2000 include sales of 7-Up, which the company no longer bottles or distributes.

Cantrell & Cochrane (C&C) took over the manufacturing and distribution rights for 7-Up and Diet 7-Up in the Irish market in January. At the same time Coca-Cola HBC took over the bottling and distribution of Schweppes brands in Ireland from C&C.