Edrington founds European travel retail unit

Edrington will launch Edrington European Travel Retail on 1 April as the firm’s distribution deal with Maxxium Travel Retail comes to an end.

Kasper Andersen has been appointed commercial director of Edrington European Travel Retail

Edrington European Travel Retail will be responsible for distributing the company’s spirits portfolio, which includes The Macallan, Highland Park, Brugal rum and Snow Leopard vodka, throughout Europe.

The new travel retail arm will be headed by former area director, North and Central Europe, and acting managing director Edrington Nordics, Kasper Andersen, who will be based in Sweden and take on the role of commercial director, reporting directly to Aristotelis Baroutsis, managing director of Edrington Global Travel Retail.

Edrington’s Garry Coull has been appointed financial controller and will report to Andersen.

New marketing manager Steve Sleigh will also report to Andersen and be based in Scotland.

“The travel retail channel is rapidly developing and Edrington European Travel Retail has been designed to get us closer to customers and consumers,” said Baroutsis. “I have been delighted to be able to draw on a wealth of marketing, commercial and financial expertise from Edrington and Maxxium Travel Retail.

“Under Maxxium’s stewardship our brands have achieved excellent results in Europe and as we move forward we will benefit from the strong relationships that have been built with customers across the region.

“With travel, tourism and retail spend projected to grow dramatically in the next decade, Edrington has sharpened its focus on the potential that travel retail represents for our premium brands and increased investment in travel retail across the world.

“We look forward to continued strong growth for our portfolio.”

Maxxium Travel Retail announced it would cease operating from April 2015 last year, when Edrington and Beam Suntory terminate their joint venture to establish their own travel retail businesses.

Edrington Global Travel Retail launched in Singapore in October last year, and covers Asia Travel Retail, Edrington Webb Travel Retail Americas (launched in January this year), and the travel retail divisions of Edrington-Fix Middle East.