USA – The global spirits business, Quintessential Brands has announced the formation of a North American stand-alone business entity to better serve consumers in the market.
Called Quintessential Brands North America, LLC, the new business unit takes over the management and import responsibility of the various brands produced by the company.
The business will serve markets such as US, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, with an array of Quintessential Brands premium brands portfolio, which includes a diverse range of award-winning gin, Irish whiskey and Irish Cream brands.
It will also be responsible for serving retailers, distributors and brand owners, offering them spirits solutions services, including bottling, packaging and new product development across a wide range of spirits categories.
Quintessential Brands North America becomes the company’s first independent venture outside of Europe and will be led by Steve Ward as CEO.
Ward joined Quintessential Brands as Vice President Business Development for the US and Canada in 2018 following 23 years in the industry, working for global companies such as Heineken and Edrington.
To ensure a smooth organisational transformation, Bill Spann who was CEO of Quintessential Brands North America will become chairman, while Philippe Roederer remains Commercial Director for North America.
Chris Song will serve as Vice-President for Quintessential Brands Spirit Solutions.
With the organisational changes, the company expects to make new hires in trade marketing, regional sales, national accounts and customer service.
“Since we established Quintessential Brands in 2011, we have enjoyed great success in the UK thanks to our clear dual focus on providing unrivalled innovation and quality, but as a company with global ambitions, we’ve always had great aspirations for North America when the time was right,” said Co-Founder of Quintessential Brands Group and Executive Chairman, Enzo Visone.
“We believe that time is now, so by taking ownership of our route to market in North America, we can now become the masters of our destiny in the continent.
“The team we’ve assembled to drive the success we aspire to in North America are highly capable and ambitious to achieve our goals, so I’m confident this is the start of a new exciting chapter for Quintessential Brands as we begin to unlock our true potential in the Americas.”
The changes follow the opening of a new US$11.3 million distillery facility in Dublin in February to enhance production of Irish Whisky brands.
The facility, part of the Dublin Liberties Distillery unit produces The Dubliner and Liberties brands with the lead of master distiller Darryl McNally.
“The scope of brands, products and services we bring to the market is second to none so as we now take control of our importing business in the US, we are determined to deliver a superior service to the distributors and retailers of our brands across America and drive improved awareness and resonance amongst consumers through a program of engaging marketing activity,” said Steve Ward, CEO for Quintessential Brands North America.
