More flavoured gins from Pernod Ricard possible
The owner of gin brands including Beefeater Pink Strawberry and Blood Orange told The Morning Advertiser at the announcement of its financial results at the Fourth Knot in London’s Sea Containers Hotel, on the South Bank.
When asked if there were plans to release any more flavoured gins, PRUK managing director David Haworth said: “Yes, there would be plans but we can’t tell you anything at the moment.
“The thing about flavoured gin is at what point do we leverage it? How many variations do we want to extend to?”
Flavour additions
He added: “When do we launch new ones? I don’t know exactly but everybody will expect there to be some flavour additions, however, we don’t want to produce every flavour under the rainbow.”
Haworth went on to outline why PRUK acquired Italian gin brand Malfy earlier this year (June) in a bid to expand its flavoured gin repertoire.
“One of the reasons for purchasing Malfy is to move us into the flavoured gin space because this brand has three flavours – Con Limone, Gin Rosa and Con Arancia,” he added.
“I’m not sure which one will work best but I expect the Gin Rosa and the Con Limone. I’m not sure about the Con Arancia and how it will fit in with Beefeater Blood Orange.”
Easing off
Haworth said: “Our portfolio has plenty of flavours but watch this space for Beefeater. If we do new flavours, we won’t be doing two or three a year.”
He also predicted the gin bubble would not be bursting any time soon but there could be an impact on the number of brands.
He said: “We are still seeing growth [in gin] so it isn’t finished yet but there will be a fallout in the number of brands available.
“I don’t see it falling back to the small category it was five or so years ago but I do see it easing off in time.”
