Zamora buys majority stake in Chinese distributor

Licor 43 maker Zamora Company has made its first foray into the Chinese market after purchasing a majority stake in wine and spirits distributor Tintafina.

Tintafina will distribute Zamora’s portfolio including Licor 43 in China

The joint venture will see the Shanghai-based firm take on distribution of Zamora’s wine and spirits portfolio, including Licor 43, Lolea sangria and Ramón Bilbao wines, with immediate effect. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The family-owned Spanish firm will now have three out of five places on Tintafina’s management board, and will work together to build its brands across all channels.

Victor ten Wode, region director, emerging markets, at Zamora Company, said: “This decision is a clear execution of our company’s strategy to reinforce and continuously improve our routes to markets.

“Zamora Company is excited about this opportunity – a more direct presence in the market allows us to invest in our brands more than before. We will strengthen our relationship with existing distribution partners and we will also enter channels we haven’t been represented in before. We will continue to accelerate the growth of Ramón Bilbao, and see a bright future for Lolea and our premium spirit portfolio in China.”

Thomas de Wangen, managing director and founding partner of Tintafina, added: “The combination of Zamora Company’s prestige brands, and the team’s local knowledge and passion will build new opportunities for the entire portfolio in the complex and exciting Chinese market.”

Earlier this month, Licor 43 launched a new line extension that contains coffee from the Canary Islands.