Edrington And Beam Suntory To End UK Distribution Agreement In 2025
Edrington And Beam Suntory To End UK Distribution Agreement In 2025
• Edrington UK to focus exclusively on Edrington brands
• Beam Suntory to establish its own commercial business in the UK in February 2025
GLASGOW & LONDON, UK (22 March 2024) - Two of the world’s leading premium spirits companies, Edrington and Beam Suntory, are to end their distribution agreement in the UK with effect from 31st January 2025. Edrington UK will continue to distribute Beam Suntory brands until that date.
From February 2025, Edrington UK will focus exclusively on Edrington’s portfolio of ultra-premium and leading spirits. Beam Suntory will establish its own commercial business for the UK market, led by Nick Temperley, MD UK & Ireland.
Beam Suntory and Edrington have had a long and successful partnership in the UK, dating back more than 25 years and evolving over time from the jointly-owned Edrington-Beam Suntory UK business (formerly Maxxium UK) into a third-party distribution partnership in 2021. During that time both portfolios have seen sustained growth.
Aristotelis Baroutsis, Edrington’s Regional Managing Director for EMEIA*, said: “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.”
Nick Temperley, Beam Suntory’s Managing Director for UK & Ireland, said: “Firstly, my sincere thanks to the entire team at Edrington UK, with whom we have partnered so closely for so many years, for their outstanding work on our portfolio in the UK.
“It will be an absolute privilege to build the new 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.
“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."
Edrington UK MD Mark Riley said: “I am excited at the opportunity to shape our UK business focused exclusively on opportunities for Edrington’s ultra-premium and leading spirits. The Edrington UK team has delivered strong results for Beam Suntory’s portfolio and we are proud to represent these excellent brands in the UK until next February.”
ENDS
*EMEIA – Europe, Middle East, India, Africa
For further information, please contact:
Susy Atkinson, Senior Corporate Communications Manager, Edrington
susy.atkinson@edrington.com
+44 (0) 777 554 7732
Nell Murphy, International Communications Director, Beam Suntory
Nell.murphy@beamsuntory.com
Notes to editors:
About Beam Suntory
As a world leader in premium spirits, Beam Suntory 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®, Beam Suntory 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 Beam Suntory's 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, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit https://www.beamsuntory.com/ and https://www.drinksmart.com/.
About Edrington
Edrington’s vision is to give more by crafting exceptional ultra-premium spirit brands.
The Macallan is our central focus, supported by Highland Park and The Glenrothes in the fast-growing single malt category and Naked Malt in the blended malt category. Our portfolio is completed with Brugal premium rum from the Dominican Republic, The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky, and Wyoming Whiskey and Noble Oak in the American Whiskey category. Edrington also has a strategic partnership with No.3 London Dry Gin.
Edrington is headquartered in Scotland and employs over 3,000 people in its wholly owned and joint venture companies, with over half employed outside the UK. We own our route to market in 16 countries and distribute our brands to more than 100 countries around the world through joint ventures and third-party agreements.
Edrington’s principal shareholder is The Robertson Trust, which has donated £343 million to charitable causes in Scotland since 1961. Our business is underpinned by the Edrington values of giving, respect, integrity and excellence.