The Cotswolds Distillery, a producer of spirits including Cotswolds Signature Single Malt Whisky and Cotswolds Dry Gin, has signed a distribution agreement with Illva Saronno Holding, the Italian multinational that owns liqueur brands Disaronno and Tia Maria, to cover sales in the UK and Benelux markets from 1 January 2024.
Cotswolds CEO Jeremy Parsons said: “With the Cotswolds Distillery becoming the largest producer of English Whisky and the opening of our second distillery in 2023, we have been looking at widening our distribution in the UK as well as expanding internationally. Having spent the past 12 months talking to a number of potential distribution partners, we firmly believe that Disaronno International UK, the local subsidiary of Illva Saronno Holding, offers us the best option, based on their portfolio of premium brands which are complementary to our own.
“With their sales and marketing organisation of 45 people, including a team of 14 who focus on activation in the on-premise channel, we are looking forward to building on the excellent work that our sales teams have done to date and creating a very successful partnership, both in the UK and further afield.”
Bert de Winter, Disaronno International Executive Vice President North West Europe, added: “We are very proud to add Cotswolds to our growing portfolio of craft and luxury brands. Our company has a mission to distribute and sell high-quality, hand-selected spirits from around the world. Cotswolds has a strong, unique brand image and award-winning taste. It is a perfect match to expand our portfolio and we look forward to building the brand and business in the coming years”.
Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky is the best-selling English whisky and has secured listings in Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Majestic, Amazon and Ocado amongst others and is distributed in over 35 countries around the world, as well as Global Travel Retail.
NAM Implications:
- This new level of cooperating for Cotswolds…
- (a feature of the New Norm)
- …means an enlarged and more comprehensive footprint.
- Therefore time for rivals to reassess relative competitive appeal.
- (unless you prefer to wait until it begins to affect your sales directly)
