Tue, 16 Apr 2013 | BUSINESS SALE
Burn Stewart Distillers, the firm that makes the Ledeag and Torbermory whiskies, has been purchased by Distell for £160 million.
South African drinks company Distell has signed a binding agreement with CL World Brands Ltd and Angostura Ltd, the owners of Burn Stewart, for the business, which operates from East Kilbride, Scotland.
The companies already have a long-established relationship, with the set up of an equal-partner venture in 2007 between Distell and Burn Stewart to share ownership and marketing efforts for three Scottish whiskies – Bunnahabhain, Black Bottle and Scottish Leader.
Burn Stewart operates a bottling hall in East Kilbride, blending and warehousing facilities in Airdrie, with three distilleries in Doune, Perthshire and Bunnahabhain on the Isle of Islay. It has a sales and marketing presence in Taiwan, and also owns a controlling stake in a spirits distribution arm in the US. It has a 200-strong workforce across these operations.
The move to take on Burn Stewart marks Distell’s second large business acquisition over the past few years, and will power up its gain from the growing worldwide thirst for whiskey. Its previous acquisition was the cognac brand Bisquit from Pernod Ricard back in 2009.
Distell Group’s managing director Jan Scannell commented on the deal, “Our acquisition of Burn Stewart is a very significant development for Distell from a strategic perspective but also given the rich and proud history and heritage of the brands involved.
“This gives us an outstanding foundation from which to build, while cherishing their individual traditions.”
Scotch whiskey has proved to be increasingly popular in recent times, with exports reaching £4.3 billion in 2012, representing a tenfold increase over a decade. Burn Stewart itself recorded operating profits of £6.9 million in 2012.
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