ITALY – The global spirits company, Pernod Ricard has agreed to acquire the Italian super-premium gin brand Malfy from Biggar & Leith for an undisclosed sum.
Malfy makes a range of super-premium gins distilled by the Vergnano family in the Italian region of Moncalieri, and already present in several international markets such as the United States, United Kingdom and Germany.
The brand claims that the gin range which include Originale, Con Limone, Con Arancia and Gin Rosa are made using genuine Italian ingredients such as Italian juniper, coastal grown Italian lemons and Sicilian blood oranges and pink grapefruits.
“We are excited to see Malfy gin move to the Pernod Ricard family of brands,” said Elwyn Gladstone, Founder of Biggar & Leith.
“We believe that with their stewardship and expertise in building super-premium spirits brands, Malfy will continue to flourish.”
The acquisition further expands Pernod Ricard’s portfolio into the fast growing super premium and flavoured gins categories.
This expansion is also supported by the recent acquisition of a majority stake in dry-gin brand Monkey 47, produced by Black Forest Distillers GmbH in Germany.
Malfy’s production stands at around 100,000 cases of gin bottles each year.
“This acquisition is true to our long-standing strategy of investing in brands with strong potential in growing categories,” said Christian Porta, Managing Director in charge of Global Business Development of Pernod Ricard.
“In line with the launch of our “Transform and Accelerate” strategic plan, we will continue actively managing our fantastic portfolio of brands”.
The company said that it acquired the UK distribution of Canadian gin label Ungava in 2018, joining its portfolio of gin, the largest growth contributor to the firm’s Total Spirits over the years.
Founded in Quebec in 2010, Ungava makes a distinctively yellow gin infused with botanicals harvested from Canada’s Arctic region.
Following a strategic review of its business, Pernod Ricard has sold some of its products including the Domecq brandy and sherry business, and more recently Graffigna Argentine wines.
