ABV Brands rebrands as Beam Suntory South Africa
ABV Brands rebrands as Beam Suntory South Africa
Cape Town, South Africa, 11 February 2019 – Following Beam Suntory’s announcement on 23rd April 2018 that it has assumed full ownership of its South African distributor, ABV Brands, the company is pleased to announce that as of 1st February 2019, ABV Brands has officially rebranded as Beam Suntory South Africa.
Beam Suntory, the world’s third largest premium spirits company, completed its acquisition of ABV Brands on 18th April 2018, assuming full ownership of its route-to-market in South Africa. The existing ABV Brands team and business was subsequently fully integrated into Beam Suntory’s global business. Mark Pockele, formerly Beam Suntory’s Commercial Director for MEA, assumed the role of Managing Director, and ABV Brands’ Dan Hawkins remained as Commercial Director along with the existing management team.
Since becoming part of Beam Suntory, the ABV Brands team has accelerated the growth of Beam Suntory’s portfolio in this important market, delivering triple-digit sales growth in 2018 and securing the #2 position for Courvoisier in the country’s vibrant Cognac category.
Mark Pockele, MD of Beam Suntory South Africa, commented: “Today is a meaningful milestone for our business, as we officially become Beam Suntory South Africa. For the past 10 months, we have been focusing on our integration with Beam Suntory’s global business and growing our premium portfolio in this high-potential growth market.
“As Beam Suntory South Africa, we will now be able to fully leverage our position as one of the world’s leading spirits businesses as we implement our ambitious growth strategy. We are proud to be part of the global Beam Suntory family, and to represent a company with such an extraordinary premium spirits portfolio and storied legacy here in South Africa.”
FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT:
Nell Murphy
International Communications Director, Beam Suntory
nell.murphy@beamsuntory.com
+44 (0) 7471148209