The Edrington Group
Edrington is a Scotch whisky company, involved in blending, bottling, distributing and marketing. It produces several well-known blended brands, including The Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark, and premium single malts The Macallan and Highland Park. The spirits portfolio also includes Brugal, the leading golden rum in the Caribbean.
Based in Glasgow, it is the most profitable privately held company in Scotland.
History
W.A. Robertson began business in the city of Glasgow in 1850, forming Robertson & Baxter in 1860. In 1885 the company took a share holding in the North British Distillery Company.
The Robertson Trust bears the family name of the Robertson sisters (Elspeth, Agnes and Ethel) who had inherited the Scotch whisky interests founded and developed by their grandfather and father. Keen to ensure the on-going success of the these interests, in 1961 they brought them together under The Edrington Group (named after a farm near their home in the Scottish Borders) and established The Robertson Trust, a charitable trust which owns The Edrington Group. The Trust gave £11.4 million last year to a wide variety of charitable causes.
In the New Year Honours 2008, the Edrington Group's chair, John James Griffin Good, was made a Knight Bachelor "for services to Scotland".[1] In 2010, Edrington was named "outstanding private company" in Scotland plc awards.
Operations
Over the past five years Edrington has increased the international nature of its business through the acquisition of brands and sales and distribution companies in key markets. These have proven to be transformational changes.
- In November, 1985, Edrington renewed its marketing and distribution agreement with Remy Cointreau USA, which remained the exclusive distributor of the Group's brand portfolio in the United States until 2014.
- In February, 2008 the company bought a majority shareholding in Brugal, the leading golden rum in the Caribbean and one of the fastest growing spirits in the global drinks industry. It has since become the market leader in Spain, a key market for golden rum, and expanded its global distribution network.
- In April, 2009 Edrington formed a new sales and distribution alliance with Beam Global Spirits & Wine in 24 key international markets under which Edrington now owns its own distribution companies in Taiwan, South Korea, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark. These alliance markets represent about two-thirds of the Group's business contribution.
- In April 2010 Edrington acquired the Cutty Sark blended Scotch whisky brand from long-standing trading partner Berry Bros & Rudd. The brand is a leader in the important markets of Spain, Greece and Portugal; continues to have a strong presence in America; and is increasing its footprint in Asia and developing markets.[2]
- In April 2014, Edrington ended its relationship with Remy Cointreau in the United States, and began distributing its own portfolio in North America.