Work ready to begin on the expansion of The Glenlivet distillery, reinforcing the recent success and bright future for the world’s largest single malt Scotch whisky
CHIVAS Brothers has forged ahead with its investment into enhancing the production and manufacturing facilities of The Glenlivet distillery to ensure that current and future demand for ‘the single malt that started it all’ continues to be met.
Improvements will eventually deliver a significant increase in capacity.
The news follows a strong set of financial results for the year ending in June 2015 for Chivas Brothers, announced last week, with the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard recording overall growth in net sales of +three per cent.
The Glenlivet recorded the standout achievement for Chivas Brothers with +11 per cent net sales growth, a result of the brand’s commitment to innovation and craftsmanship through launches such as Founder’s Reserve, the extension of the Master Distiller’s Reserve range and The Winchester Collection.
The Glenlivet has successfully driven consumer recruitment and attracted Scotch connoisseurs to the brand, which has made it the largest contributor to the growth of the single malt category in the past five years (IWSR 2014).
Today’s announcement reinforces the brand’s recent unrivalled global success, selling over one million cases [1] to become the world’s No.1 single malt Scotch whisky brand.
The Glenlivet is also spearheading growth for the entire Pernod Ricard Single Malt Scotch whisky portfolio, with the group’s range becoming the global No.1 [2].
Across other brands in the Chivas Brothers portfolio there were additional strong performances such as Ballantine’s Finest growing in an otherwise declining category.
The brand, No. 2 Scotch whisky worldwide, sold over six million cases in the year, ending in June 2015, following an increase of +two per cent in net sales driven by Ballantine’s Finest.
Ballantine’s prestige portfolio has retained its loyal consumer base through the launch of Ballantine’s Golf Club while millennial whisky drinkers have been recruited to Ballantine’s Finest through successful marketing campaigns including the brand’s partnership with Boiler Room.
Chivas Regal, the world’s first luxury whisky, maintained its position despite a slight decline in global sales of Scotch whisky in 2014 [3], demonstrating the continued appeal of this iconic brand. The past 12 months saw the launch of The Venture and the introduction of two new luxury whiskies, Chivas Extra and Chivas Regal The Icon, into the award-winning portfolio.
Chivas Brothers continues to lead in the standard segment with Passport Scotch, which grew +20 per cent in net sales to reach a record 1.7m cases in the year ending in June 2015.
Passport has strong appeal among millennial consumers in emerging markets including Brazil, Angola and Mexico, which has helped to earn its position as the fastest growing of all spirits brands that sell more than 200,000 cases per year [4].
Beefeater, the world’s most awarded gin, continued to capitalise on the global gin renaissance, growing by +three per cent in net sales in the year ending in June 2015.
Led by strong growth of Beefeater London Dry, the brand has engaged with the on-trade community through the Beefeater MIXLDN Bartender Competition and has inspired consumers through activations including Beefeater London Sounds.
Laurent Lacassagne, chair and CEO of Chivas Brothers, commented: “Today’s first step towards an expansion at The Glenlivet Distillery is an historic day for Chivas Brothers as we look to continue the brand’s phenomenal triumphs across the past five years to reinforce our position as the world’s No.1 single malt Scotch whisky.
“Success for The Glenlivet is not in isolation – we have reported growth of +three per cent in net sales for the Chivas Brothers range as a whole, supported by a strong performance across our wider single malt, premium and standard blended Scotch and English gin portfolios with Aberlour, Ballantine’s, Passport and Beefeater respectively.
“The overall performance of our comprehensive portfolio of Scotch whiskies in the context of the wider category, which declined slightly last year, has been robust and we are committed to investing into manufacturing facilities geared towards innovation to help us to capitalise on the current and long-term growth prospects of the category.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Chivas Brothers financial results for the year ending in June 2015 (net sales):
Chivas Brothers: +three per cent
Chivas Regal: zero per cent
Ballantine’s: +two per cent
Beefeater: +three per cent
The Glenlivet: +11 per cent
Royal Salute: -eight per cent
Passport: +20 per cent
About Chivas Brothers
Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, the world’s co-leader in wines and spirits. Chivas Brothers’ award-winning portfolio features some of the world’s most revered Scotch whisky brands including Chivas Regal, the world’s first luxury whisky and the No.1 Scotch whisky in China; Ballantine’s, Europe’s No.1 Scotch whisky; The Glenlivet, the world’s No.1 single malt whisky; and Royal Salute, the world’s only exclusively prestige Scotch whisky range.
The portfolio also includes two of the world’s leading English gins – Beefeater, the world’s most awarded premium gin, and Plymouth gin – plus a selection of highly acclaimed single malt whiskies, including Aberlour, Longmorn, Scapa, Strathisla and Tormore. The range is completed by a collection of blended Scotch whiskies operating in many of the world’s key whisky markets which includes 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport Scotch.
About Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard is the world’s co-leader in wines and spirits with consolidated sales of €7,945 million in 2013/14. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin & Spirit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector and employs a workforce of approximately 18,000 people, operating through a decentralised organization with six ‘Brand Companies’ and 80 ‘Market Companies’ established in each key market.
Pernod Ricard is strongly committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible consumption. Pernod Ricard’s strategy and ambition are based on three key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics. Pernod Ricard is listed on the NYSE Euronext exchange (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is a member of the CAC 40 index.
For further information or images, please contact:
George Quiney
Richmond Towers Communications
Tel: 020 7554 4496
Email: chivasbrothers@rt-com.com
Cordelia Toy
Chivas Brothers
Cordelia.Toy@pernod-ricard.com
[1] The Glenlivet sold 1,065k 9lc in the year ending December 2014, according to IWSR 2014
[2] Source: IWSR 2014
[3] Scotch Whisky Association (April 2015 – link)
[4] Source: IWSR 2014
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