Suntory Global Spirits France Begins Operations
Suntory Global Spirits France Begins Operations
New commercial business launched on January 1st, with a full team and a new office in Paris
Paris, France (11 January 2024) – Suntory Global Spirits, a global leader in premium spirits with a portfolio of iconic brands including Jim Beam®, Maker's Mark®, Yamazaki®, Hibiki®, Roku™, Bowmore® and Laphroaig®, confirms that Suntory Global Spirits France officially launched on January 1st, 2024. The company is now directly responsible for the marketing and distribution of its portfolio in France.
This follows the company’s previous announcement in September sharing its plans to launch its own commercial entity in the country. The establishment of Suntory Global Spirits France will support the company’s global strategic focus on building its premium portfolio and will strengthen its position in this dynamic European market.
Anne Miller, General Manager of Suntory Global Spirits France, said: “We want to be the leader in premium whisky in France, and we are proud to be able to bring legendary brands like Yamazaki, Hibiki, Laphroaig, Bowmore and Maker’s Mark directly to our customers. We have built a strong, experienced team in Paris, and we are looking forward to building a successful premium business together.
“Paris is a global luxury capital and France is the leading whisky market in Europe. With direct control over our brands in our market, we’ll be able to bring even more value to our customers, operate with greater agility and direct market insights, and ultimately accelerate growth and build brand power in this important market,” Miller added.
In preparation for this month’s launch, Suntory Global Spirits has recruited an experienced team in Paris and built key in-market capabilities. Suntory Global Spirits France now comprises a team of approximately 30 people across Sales, Marketing, Finance and Supply Chain. A seasoned management team has been assembled under Anne Miller’s leadership, including Elodie Pomykala (Head of Marketing), Henri Charpentier (Head of Sales), Benoit Vaguer (Head of Supply Chain), and Svetlana Makarova (Head of Finance). Between them, this team brings several decades of experience from across leading global FMCG and premium spirits companies, including Diageo, Pernod Ricard, Moët Hennessy, Danone, Unilever, Reckitt and Kellogg’s.
Yuri Grebenkin, President International, Suntory Global Spirits, commented: “The launch of Suntory Global Spirits France represents a significant expansion of Suntory Global Spirits footprint in Europe, and is an indication of our long-term confidence in the French market and the potential for our portfolio of premium brands. As Suntory Global Spirits global footprint continues to mature and expand, we are excited about the future as we aim to become the World’s Most Admired Premium Spirits Company.”
About Suntory Global Spirits
As a world leader in premium spirits, Suntory Global Spirits inspires the brilliance of life by delivering great consumer experiences through its world-class portfolio of brands. Known for its craftsmanship of premium whiskies, including Jim Beam®, Maker's Mark®, Basil Hayden® and Knob Creek® bourbons; Japanese whiskies, including Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki™; and leading Scotch brands including Teacher's, Laphroaig® and Bowmore®, Suntory Global Spirits also produces leading brands such as Courvoisier® cognac, Tres Generaciones®, El Tesoro® and Hornitos® tequila, Roku™ and Sipsmith® gin, Canadian Club® whisky, and is a world leader in ready-to-drink cocktails, with brands like -196 and On The Rocks™ Premium Cocktails.
A global company with approximately 6,000 employees in more than 30 countries, one of Suntory Global Spirits core values is Growing for Good and through its Proof Positive sustainability strategy, the company has committed to ambitious goals and investments to promote environmental sustainability in its operations, ensure the company has a positive impact on the communities where employees live and work, and programs to educate and inform consumers to make the right personal choices about drinking. Headquartered in New York City, Suntory Global Spirits is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan.
For more information on Suntory Global Spirits, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit https://www.beamsuntory.com/ and https://www.drinksmart.com/.