Acquisitionof First Drinks

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drinks news

acquisition of first drinks brands

liquid assets, drinks news, october 2006, COMMENTS

Independent family-owned distillers William Grant & Sons Ltd confirmed the purchase of their joint venture shareholder Bacardi Martini Ltd’s 50% share in First Drinks Brands, the UK distribution business, on 28 September.

First Drinks Brands was set up as a joint venture company jointly owned by William Grant & Sons Ltd and Bacardi in 1996 and today distributes William Grant & Sons’ total UK portfolio of brands, including the world’s number one single malt, Glenfiddich, Grant’s, The Balvenie and Hendrick’s Gin. The company also manages the distribution, sales and marketing for Bénédictine Liqueur and for other third party agency brands including De Kuyper/Warninks, Disaronno, Mateus and Amarula in the UK.

William Grant & Sons’ Chief Executive Roland van Bommel commented: “This move underlines William Grant & Sons’ long term commitment to First Drinks Brands as a brand-building company managing the continued growth of our portfolio of brands as well as third-party brands in the UK, which remains an important strategic market for our global business.”

Added John Beard, UK Chief Executive for Bacardi Martini: “Our partnership with William Grant’s through First Drinks has been very positive. However, we have now re-integrated brands into our portfolio. We wish William Grant’s and the First Drinks management team every success.”

William Grant & Sons Ltd now has wholly-owned subsidiary companies in the USA, China and Taiwan and the acquisition of First Drinks Brands will significantly increase the company’s control of its route to market.

From: October 2006 Issue

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