Emperador to be distributed in the US this year

The world's largest brandy maker,Emperador, Inc., has recently signed a deal to bring its homegrown Emperador Brandy to North America, particularly in the United States.

Speaking at the company’s annual stockholders meeting Monday, Emperador, Inc. president Winston Co revealed that the Filipino-owned brandy will be available in the US market by second half of this year.

“We have signed an agreement to make Emperador brandy available in North America. So hopefully, by the latter part of this year, when you go to the US, you will be able to see Emperador brandy there,” Co said.

Aside from North America, Co also revealed that the world’s largest brandy company is also signing distribution agreements with 10 countries in central and eastern Europe.

“By 2020, Emperador will be a global brand, alongside our other newly-acquired brands,Fundador and Whyte and Mackay,” Co revealed.

Co stressed that while the company is already getting attention in Europe because of its landmark acquisitions of Fundador, Spain’s oldest and largest brandy; as well as Whyte & Mackay, one of Scotland’s largest Scotch whisky makers, it is also excited about the potentials of its expanded distribution in Asia, especially in China.

Emperador earlier this year completed its P13.8-billion takeover of the 286-year-old Bodegas Fundador from Beam Suntory, Inc., allowing the company access to the liquor markets of around 100 countries across the globe.

“This acquisition has further strengthened Emperador’s position as the world’s largest company and has made the Philippines one of the largest foreign investors in Spain,” Emperador Chairman Dr. Andrew L. Tan said during the meeting.

In 2014, the company acquired Scotch whisky company Whyte and Mackay Group Limited -- owner of the brands Whyte and Mackay, Jura and The Dalmore – for 430 million pounds or approximately P31-billion.

“By entering into the whisky business, we are tapping a new liquor category and potentially paving the way for future proofing of our liquor dominance in the country,” Tan said.

With the company’s aggressive expansion globally, he is optimistic that the share of overseas sales will equal those from domestic market to its total revenues over the next few years. Earnings from the international markets currently comprise 38 percent of the total.

“Eventually, the 50-50 (share is) very possible but we can’t say when. It can be 2020, it can be 2019. I really don’t know but we are pushing that very hard,” he said.