QUINTESSENTIAL BRANDS ANNOUNCES MAJOR ACQUISITION
International drinks group invests in dynamic Irish Cream Liqueurs category
3 April 2014
International drinks group, Quintessential Brands, has today announced the acquisition of the First Ireland Spirits Company Ltd., Ireland’s largest independent producer of Irish Cream Liqueurs and Irish Country Creams.
The multi-million Euro investment is part of Quintessential Brands’ on-going strategy to acquire drinks companies that complement its existing portfolio of brands, enhance its industry services and provide additional route to market capabilities in line with Quintessential Brands’ ambitious growth and investment plans.
First Ireland Spirits today produces and sells over 700,000 cases of Irish Cream Liqueurs and Irish Country Creams across 35 markets worldwide for some of the world’s largest retailers and drinks companies. It is Ireland’s leading independent producer of private label Irish cream liqueurs and also its leading producer of branded and private label Irish country cream.
Quintessential Brands’ co-founder and Chairman, Enzo Visone, commented: “The acquisition of First Ireland Spirits gives us an unrivalled position in the global market for Irish cream liqueurs and is part of our strategy to become a leading European independent player in the spirits industry.
“First Ireland Spirits has well-established customer and international distribution platforms, a strong portfolio of brands and proven production capabilities, which will add to our branded and private label businesses, enhance our route to market capability and open up new opportunities in other dynamic spirits and liqueurs categories. The acquisition by Quintessential Brands ensures management and employees of First Ireland Spirits have an exciting future as we pursue our ambitious plans to expand our operations in Ireland,” he said.
Owen Brady, one of the founders of First Ireland Spirits, added: “Having created First Ireland Spirits in 1993 and built the business over the last 20 years it is an appropriate point in time for First Ireland Spirits to become part of a larger spirits group. As part of Quintessential Brands, First Ireland Spirits will now have the opportunity to grow sales in the international Irish cream markets as well as expand into other Irish spirits categories. I am very proud of what we have built over the years and this deal represents an exciting opportunity for the company and its employees.”
Ends
Notes to editors
The Quintessential Brands Group was founded by Enzo Visone, former CEO of Gruppo Campari, and former investment banker, Warren Scott, in 2011. The Group includes the companies Quintessential Brands, G&J Distillers, the distilling and bottling division, and Essential Drinks, the business to business supply division. The Quintessential Brands Group entered into a partnership with Marblehead Brand Development in the UK in 2013.
First Ireland Spirits Company was acquired by The Quintessential Brands Group for an undisclosed sum. The First Ireland Spirits brand portfolio includes O’Mara Irish Country Cream, Feeney’s Irish Cream Liqueur, Irish Knights Irish Country Cream and The Dubliner Irish Whiskey Liqueur.
The Quintessential Brands portfolio includes Greenall’s Original Gin, BLOOM Gin, Berkeley Square London Dry Gin, Opihr Oriental Spiced Gin and Toussaint Coffee Rum Liqueur, which are all produced by G&J Distillers.
G&J Distillers is the UK’s leading distiller and bottler of premium gin and vodka, producing 60% of gin in the UK and over 20% of premium gin worldwide. G&J Distillers is the UK’s oldest producer of premium gin and has been distilling since 1761.
The First Ireland Spirits company portfolio includes O’Mara’s Irish Country Cream, Feeney’s Irish Cream Liqueur, Irish Knights Irish Country Cream and The Dubliner Irish whiskey liqueur. In addition, First Ireland is a major provider of private label Irish Creams to major international retail partnerships globally.
For further information:
ABOUT QUINTESSENTIAL BRANDS
Quintessential Brands owns an award-winning portfolio of world-class spirit brands, which is powered by a strong entrepreneurial vision and passion for innovation, backed by centuries of handcrafted distilling expertise.
Quintessential Brands Group was established in 2011 with the acquisition of G&J Distillers, the UK’s foremost gin distillery, which evolved from Thomas Dakin’s original 1761 operation and now produces an unrivalled quality gin selection. In Ireland, Dublin Liberties Distillery is our home of modern Irish whiskeys and First Ireland Spirits in Abbeyleix crafts award-winning Irish creams. Our French hub, L&L France, creates fine French fruit liqueurs, cognacs, brandies and vodka.
For more information, please contact the communications team at Quintessential Brands by e-mail: [email protected]
