Pernod Ricard

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Pernod Ricard


Type Public (Euronext: RI)
Founded 1975
Headquarters Paris, France
Key people Patrick Ricard (Chairman and CEO)
Industry Drinks
Products Alcoholic beverages
Revenue 5.80 billion (2004/2005)
Employees 12,304
Slogan "Local roots, global reach"
Website www.pernod-ricard.com

Pernod Ricard (Euronext: RI) is a French company producing alcoholic beverages. Their most famous product, Ricard Pastis, is often referred to as simply Ricard or Pernod. The company also produces several other types of pastis.

Reborn from the Pernod Fils company as a producer of Pastis following the ban on Absinthe, it is now a worldwide conglomerate. It owns the Austin, Nichols company (maker of Wild Turkey whiskies) and the alcoholic beverage division of the former Seagram corporation, among many other holdings. In 2005, the company acquired British-based international competitor Allied Domecq plc. This acquisition made it one of the world's largest beverage groups, behind only InBev and Diageo by sales.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Pernod

Main article: Pernod Fils
  • 1871 - Distillerie Hémard is founded near Paris.
  • 1872 - Société Pernod Pére & Fils opens in Avignon.
  • 1915 - Production and consumption of Absinthe is prohibited in France. Most companies look for alternative and begin the production of Pastis
  • 1926 - All 3 distilleries merge to form Les Établissements Pernod.
  • 1965 - Takeover of Distillerie Rousseau, Laurens et Moureaux producer of the Suze liquor since 1889.

[edit] Ricard

  • 1940 - Production of Pastis is prohibited by the Vichy regime.
  • 1944 - Production of Pastis becomes legal again.
  • 1968 - Paul Ricard retires, his son Patrick becomes CEO in 1978

[edit] Pernod Ricard

  • 1975 - Old rivals Pernod and Ricard merge to form Pernod Ricard S.A..

[edit] Brands

Pernod Ricard's product range pre-July 2005
Pernod Ricard's product range pre-July 2005

Pernod Ricard owns a wide variety of beverage brands worldwide. These include:

As of 26 July 2005, the brand portfolio expanded to include former Allied Domecq products:

Lincolnshire, Illinois-based Fortune Brands acquired a number of former Allied Domecq brands from Pernod Ricard following Pernod Ricard’s acquisition of Allied Domecq. These include:

  • Cockburn port
  • Harveys sherries
  • Larios gin
  • DYC whisky
  • Fundador Spanish brandy
  • Centenario Spanish brandy
  • Kuemmerling German bitters.

Fortune Brands’ agreement with Pernod Ricard also includes the purchase of the Maker’s Mark bourbon brand, which remains subject to regulatory clearance in the United States. While the U.S. Federal Trade Commission conducts its review, Maker’s Mark will be owned and managed by Pernod Ricard and Pernod Ricard will receive the earnings on the brand. Fortune Brands will be compensated with interest payments pending transfer of the brand.

Yoo-hoo chocolate beverage (notably non-alcoholic) was sold to Pernod Ricard in 1989, and in 2001 Pernod Ricard sold it to Cadbury Schweppes.

[edit] Subsidiaries

[edit] External links


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