Quintessential Brands ‘will continue’ acquisition streak

Quintessential Brands will seek to further diversify its business with acquisitions, but the company is “not interested” in filling portfolio holes, the group’s executive chairman has said.

Enzo Visone is a self-confessed “deal junkie”

Speaking to The Spirits Business, Enzo Visone said Quintessential Brands does not have a “portfolio approach” to acquisitions, and instead analyses each opportunity on a “standalone basis”.

Quintessential Brands’s first brand acquisition in 2011 was that of Greenall’s Gin producer, G&J Distillers, creating the bedrock of its company.

In 2014, the firm bought Ireland’s largest producer of Irish cream liqueurs, First Ireland Spirits, maker of the Feeney’s brand. One year later, Quintessential purchased French liqueurs, vodka, Cognac and Armagnac producer Lafragette & Legier.

Then, in 2016, Quintessential acquired the Dublin Whiskey Company and took over its plans to build The Dublin Liberties Distillery.

“We will diverse into other areas,” said Visone. “We will always work to maintain our credentials in gin, and depending on the other brands or businesses we acquire and develop, it remains to be seen if it will continue to be the dominant part of our business or not.”

He continued: “There’s one characteristic that Warren [Scott – co-founder of Quintessential Brands] and I have very much in common – we are both deal junkies.

“We have made five acquisitions in five years and will continue to do so. The speed depends on what opportunities present themselves.

“Anything we acquire has to contribute strategically to our plan for the future, and we only buy businesses and/or brands that we believe we can grow. In other words, we are not interested in adding another badge or brand to our portfolio because there’s a hole.”

To see The Spirits Business’s full interview with Enzo Visone, take a look at our May 2017 issue – out now.