Hurricane Melissa led to $3.5 billion in lost sales for Campari, the owner of Wray & Nephew, Appleton rum brands

Hurricane Melissa cost Campari, the Italian spirits company, €21 million (J$3.5 billion) as the local operation, J.Wray & Nephew Ltd, suffered from a reduction in alcohol consumption, masking what would otherwise have been a stronger year.

“Jamaica hurricane impact—€21 million in the fourth quarter,” the company disclosed in its results presentation, adding that the group — one of the largest spirits companies in the world — would have grown at 3.0 per cent for the full year, excluding that effect.

The storm disrupted local consumption and tourist traffic across the island in a season typically critical for the spirits industry. The company said Jamaica registered just 1.0 per cent organic sales growth for the year as a whole, despite what it characterised as solid underlying momentum. “Excluding the impact of the hurricane, Jamaica grew at more than 15 per cent, mainly driven by Wray & Nephew Overproof and Magnum Tonic Wine,” the company said in its financials.

Jamaica accounted for roughly 4.0 per cent of total group sales in 2025, generating €133.5 million (J$22.3 billion), down from €148.2 million (J$24.7 billion) in the prior year — a reported decline of roughly 10 per cent once unfavourable currency movements and the hurricane disruption were factored in. The Jamaican dollar’s devaluation against the euro compounded the damage, with foreign exchange effects accounting for a meaningful share of the drop in reported terms.

The company noted that production sites sustained minimal direct damage, limiting operational disruption, though reduced foot traffic from both locals and tourists weighed heavily on volumes in the quarter. Chief Executive Simon Hunt emphasised the resilience of the broader portfolio despite the headwind. In the release, he said the company’s brands “outperformed and gained market share in nearly all markets globally, with growth across 24 countries and all of our brand houses”.

Campari separately disclosed it donated J$250 million (US$1.6 million) to the Jamaican Government’s hurricane relief fund and local non-governmental organisations to support community recovery efforts.

At the group level, Campari’s total reported net sales were flat at €3.05 billion, compared to €3.07 billion in 2024, dragged by a 3.0 per cent currency headwind — primarily from a weaker US dollar and Jamaican dollar — that more than offset the underlying organic momentum. On profitability, the picture was considerably brighter: adjusted operating profit (EBIT-adjusted) rose 5.3 per cent to €637 million (J$106 billion), while reported group net profit surged 71.7 per cent to €346 million (J$57.7 billion), though that comparison was flattering, given that 2024 had been burdened by €213 million in operating charges tied to the company’s cost-cutting programme.

“Looking forward into 2026,” said Hunt. “We expect continued pace of underlying top-line growth and improvement in profitability.”

steven.jackson@gleanerjm.com