Edrington has assumed full ownership of its travel retail business in the Americas, effective from 1 June. The business has been run since 2015 through the Edrington Webb Travel Retail Americas (EWTRA) joint venture between Edrington and World Equity Brand Builders (WEBB). Edrington has bought out WEBB’s interests in the joint venture.
EWTRA distributed and marketed Edrington brands The Macallan, Highland Park, The Famous Grouse, Cutty Sark and Brugal rum. The company’s portfolio also featured Disaronno, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Licor 43, Tia Maria, Luc Belaire and Mionetto. It was complemented by Sazerac brands Southern Comfort, Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, Blanton’s and Buffalo Trace.
Edrington Americas Senior Vice President for Latin America and Travel Retail Juan Gentile said: “The joint venture with WEBB, led by Andy Consuegra, proved exceptionally successful, delivering high double digit growth.”
Gentile added: “Edrington is now ready to fully integrate this business within our global travel retail structure, with full ownership of operations in the Americas. We already directly manage Asia, Europe and the Middle East through wholly owned distribution companies. The EWTRA buy-out is consistent with our strategy to offer a unified global presence in a channel which has seen increased consolidation by key retailers.
“Moving forward, we will continue to focus our efforts in building the equity of our core brands, especially The Macallan. Distribution brand partners will continue to play a pivotal role in maintaining the strength and scale of our presence with duty free operators in the Americas.”
WEBB Founder and EWTRA CEO Andy Consuegra said: “We’ve established enduring, highly successful partnerships between our team, the brand companies, travel retail operators and cruise lines in the Americas. Nearly doubling the business of the joint venture in such a short period of time, I believe, shows the success of these efforts and relationships.”
Edrington Global Travel Retail Managing Director Igor Boyadjian said: “The acquisition of Edrington Webb Travel Retail Americas marks the opening of a new era for Edrington, establishing a fully owned and integrated Global Travel Retail business unit. It’s an exciting new journey and a great stepping stone which will allow us to be more coherent and consistent in our global strategy with key partners and retailers.
“More importantly, we’re delighted to welcome into our family a great team of people that will add great value and local expertise to our business, as well as an exciting portfolio of distribution brands. I would like to thank Andy for his achievements and for building great momentum behind our brands in the Americas over the last few years.”
With the end of the Edrington WEBB joint venture the business is fully integrated into Edrington and takes over existing distribution contracts. Wine brands, including Cupcake Vineyards, Excelsior, Ramon Bilbao, Luc Belaire and Mionetto distributed through EWTRA, return to WEBB under a new company following the buy-out between the two parties.
Although 1 June marks the end of the joint venture in the travel retail market, Consuegra will continue to distribute the Edrington spirits portfolio in the Caribbean domestic market through WEBB Banks, a company formed in January 2017, through the merger of WEBB and Banks Channel of North Carolina.
