New era for Angostura in wake of US distillery acquisition

27 August, 2008
Page 5 
Caribbean spirits producer Angostura has announced ambitious plans for growth in the US following its acqui­sition of the country's biggest spirits distillery from Pernod-Ricard USA in June.

Angostura is to establish a US headquarters at the former Seagram distillery at Lawrenceburg, Indiana. The company said the move would make it the largest independent spirits producer in the US and also claimed it would significantly improve the supply chain for its Angostura rum and bitters brands, Caribbean Club rum punch, Scottish Leader Scotch, Hine Cognac and Blu vodka.

Lawrence Duprey, chairman of Angostura parent company CL Financial, said contract production would be a key part of the facility's future. "Our goals are to aggressively grow our presence in the US," he said.

"An industry trend has been to divest manufacturing capacity and concentrate on brand equity.

"We plan to lure business to Lawrenceburg and develop long-standing relationships with compan­ies wishing to acquire better quality and service for both distillate and packaging."

The plant originally formed part of Pernod-Ricard USA's sell-off plans after the acquisition of Allied Domecq. It had been slated for closure, which would have resulted in 400 job losses, but Angostura said its intervention has saved around 150 jobs.

No brands were included in the sale of the distillery which had been used to make Seagram's gin and vodka and Seven Crown whiskey.

Duprey added: "We have engaged engineers and surveyors to inspect the operation of the plant and their indications are that it has been maintained and operated at a higher standard than most other distilleries in the US."

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