Pernod Ricard has acquired the remaining stake in tequila brand Avión, three and a half years after paying $100 million to take majority control.
Avión produces several small batch, ultra-premium tequilas in eye-catching packaging.
The top-up to Pernod Ricard’s original stake comes seven months after it bought into the spirit mezcal, acquiring a majority stake in Mexican producer Del Maguey.
Paul Duffy, chief executive officer of Pernod Ricard USA, said: “Avión has become a leading aspirational lifestyle brand in the fast-growing ultra-premium tequila category. This acquisition is important for Pernod Ricard USA as we focus on premiumisation and building brands that consumers are passionate about. We look forward to continuing to develop and grow this exciting brand.”
Avión founder and chairman Ken Austin also said that Pernod Ricard’s people, distributors and brokers would ‘take Avión to the next level’.
Austin, along with Avión president Jenna Fagnan, will remain involved with the business and will be “incentivised through an earn out mechanism” that will last at least until 2020.
Source: FoodBev
Currently chief executive of GreenV – an international group of companies active in the horticultural sector – van Karnebeek spent a large portion of his career at Heineken, working in commercial, marketing and general management positions. He served as chief commercial officer at the Dutch brewer from 2015 until 2021.
The facility combines the existing Kerry office in Barcelona with a new customer suite and application labs. It will enable the company to work more closely with its customers in Southern Europe to develop food and beverage solutions.
The sweet and culinary flavor creation labs are the latest addition to the company’s expansive campus that has been in operation since 1964, spanning more than 312,150 square feet in Brabrand, Denmark. The innovation hub is home to more than 400 employees engaged in research, application development, ingredient and flavor creation.
