Stock Spirits drops Distell as UK distributor

Central and Eastern European producer Stock Spirits has ended its UK distribution deal with South African-based drinks group Distell after 18 months.

Stock Spirits has agreed a UK distribution deal with The Drinks Company

In March 2017, Stock Spirits expanded its distribution partnership with Distell to include the UK market. The two firms have distribution partnerships in Italy and Slovakia.

Stock Spirits has moved its UK distribution to The Drinks Company, effective 1 January 2019.

Michael Kennedy, managing director international, Stock Spirits Group, said: “I would like to thank Distell for their time and effort during our short but profitable partnership.

“They have been a very professional and committed distributor for us but after a lengthy and detailed review, we have decided together that now is the right moment to focus our efforts in a new direction in the UK.

“We are delighted to be teaming up with Bill Oddy at The Drinks Company and we believe that their expertise in the UK market will be the ideal way of taking our range of Polish and Italian brands to the next level.

“The UK is an exciting place for Polish and Italian spirits with growth of these two categories well ahead of the total market.”

The deal will allow Stock Spirits to “increase support” in the UK through a “dedicated” UK distributor.

It will enable Distell to focus on its own brands and the House of Angostura bitters and rum range. Distell, which also owns Amarula cream liqueur and Bunnahabhain Scotch whisky, handles Angostura’s portfolio in the UK. 

During its 18-month-long partnership with Distell in the UK, Stock Spirits’ UK market share has grown with the firm’s Polish and Italian brands entering a number of new regions and establishing its position with key UK customers.

Joseph Walsh, commercial director at Distell UK and Ireland, added: “The decision to exit our agreement was taken in conjunction with Stock Spirits.

“We both believed that the best way to grow our respective brands would be for Stock Spirits to find a new partner for its UK distribution as we focus on our individual strategic priorities. It has been an honour representing the brands in the UK and we wish Stock Spirits a very successful future.”