CORRECTED-FOCUS-Drinks company Distell hopes years of investment will help cure 2020 hangover

* Distell boss wants to build “African drinks champion”
* Some shareholders lost patience after years of heavy spending
* CEO says better returns are coming, African footprint trebled
* Non-African operations targeting to double operating profit
JOHANNESBURG, Dec 9 (Reuters) - For shareholders waiting for South African wine and spirits company Distell to deliver higher returns on their investments, 2020 was a year to forget.
A months-long alcohol ban in its home market, designed to help curb the spread of the coronavirus, slammed sales and earnings and its shares have dropped by more than a quarter.
The world’s second-largest cider maker had already frustrated some shareholders with years of big-ticket spending they say has delivered an inadequate payoff.

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