After that date, Beam Suntory plans establish its own commercial business for the UK market, led by the firm’s UK & Ireland managing director Nick Temperley.
Meanwhile Edrington UK will focus exclusively on its own portfolio of spirits, which includes premium Scotch whisky brands such as The Macallan, Highland Park and The Glenrothes. Edrington UK will continue to distribute Beam Suntory brands until the end of January next year when the partnership will end.
Beam Suntory and Edrington’s partnership in the UK dates back more than 25 years, evolving from the jointly-owned Edrington-Beam Suntory UK business into a third-party distribution partnership in 2021.
Whisky brands such as Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark and Laphroaig are part of Beam Suntory’s current portfolio of spirits, while it also produces brandy, gin and tequila.
‘Significant potential in the UK spirits market’
Commenting on the news, Temperley offered sincere thanks to Erdington UK and said it was an “absolute privilege” to be handed responsibility for building the Beam Suntory UK business.
“We have strong premium brands and we intend to create a diverse, world-class team anchored in London with capabilities in Scotland and across the country,” Temperley added.
“We see significant potential in the UK. It is a very large and sophisticated spirits market and home to many of the world’s best retailers, bars and restaurants. We look forward to partnering with them from February next year."
Elsewhere, Edrington’s Regional Managing Director for EMEIA Aristotelis Baroutsis commented: “Edrington’s strategy of focusing on ultra-premium spirits in world cities has strengthened our brands and our performance.
“The UK is our home market, and this is the right moment for us to deepen our focus on the potential for ultra-premium spirits and in particular, for our leading brand, The Macallan.”
In other news, a legal claim has been launched against Avara Foods alleging that the poultry supplier is polluting the River Wye and its surrounding area.
