Bottles of Ricard's aniseed-flavoured beverage are pictured at the Ricard manufacturing unit in Lormont, near Bordeaux, France February 15, 2019. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS/LONDON, Oct 19 (Reuters) - French spirits maker Pernod Ricard (PERP.PA) said on Thursday it expected to grow sales over the coming year, despite a difficult first quarter marred by big drops in sales in the United States and China. Pernod struggled as a tough economy in China dampened demand and amid inventory adjustments in the United States, where sales are also normalising after a post-COVID surge. "I am confident that we can deliver broad-based and diversified sales growth in FY24," Ricard said in a statement. But, he continued, it's not clear to what degree there will have been improvement in the economic environment hurting Pernod's performance right now.

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Persons: Regis, Pernod Ricard, PERP.PA, Pernod, Alexandre Ricard, Ricard, Martell, Mumm, Pernod's, Bernstein, Trevor Stirling, it's, Helene de Tissot, Dominique Vidalon, Emma Rumney, Sherry Jacob, Phillips, Mark Potter Organizations: Ricard, REUTERS, Diageo, Thomson Locations: Lormont, Bordeaux, France, LONDON, United States, China, India, Americas, Paris, London