Pernod UK takes over Ki No Bi and Italicus distribution

The UK arm of Pernod Ricard has taken over the national distribution and global marketing of Japanese gin Ki No Bi and aperitivo Italicus.

Pernod Ricard UK has taken over UK distribution and global marketing for Ki No Bi and Italicus

Pernod Ricard UK brought the UK distribution and global distribution of both brands in-house on 1 May.

Previously, Ki No Bi was distributed in the UK by Cask Liquid Marketing and Italicus was distributed by Cellar Trends.

Ian Peart, business development director, Pernod Ricard UK, said: “We are delighted to be expanding our portfolio of premium-plus artisanal spirits.

“Ki No Bi will drive value at the super-premium-plus end of the gin category, which by the end of last year was growing 19% in the on-trade, by tapping into the continued popularity of Japanese whisky (+24% in the off-trade) and increasing growth of Japanese gin (+18%).

“With Italicus, we will target two growing consumer trends. Firstly, Spritz cocktails, which are gaining momentum and now feature in the UK’s top 10 favourite cocktails, and secondly, as a lower-ABV spirit, Italicus provides an alternative for the 38% of cocktail consumers claiming to drink more lower-alcohol options than one year ago.”

Ki No Bi is distilled at The Kyoto Distillery in Japan and includes botanicals such as yuzu, lemon, sansho pepper, ginger and gyokuro tea.

Super-premium liqueur Italicus is bottled at 20% ABV and has won numerous awards over the years.

In March this year, Pernod Ricard invested in Italicus in an effort to establish the brand as “one of the world’s most successful aperitivo brands”.

Pernod Ricard also made a “significant investment” in Japan’s Kyoto Distillery last month, which will also be used to build a new state-of-the-art distillery.