De Kuyper to offload Mandarine Napoléon
Dutch drinks group De Kuyper has agreed to sell its Mandarine Napoléon liqueur brand to French firm Iconic Nectars.
The deal was made through Pages Védrenne, which owns several distilleries in France and is a division of family-owned group Iconic Nectars.
The sale of the mandarin-based liqueur is part of De Kuyper’s ongoing strategy to streamline its portfolio and focus on its core business.
Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed. The transaction is expected to be completed from the start of April 2026.
“We are incredibly proud of Mandarine Napoléon’s journey under our stewardship,” said Leo Evers, CEO of De Kuyper Royal Distillers.
“However, as De Kuyper continues to sharpen its strategic focus on democratising cocktails with our core cocktail liqueurs and innovative pre-mixed solutions, it was important for us to find the right home for this historic brand.
“In Pagès Vedrenne (Iconic Nectars Group), a fellow family-owned business with a deep respect for heritage spirits, we have found the perfect partner. They are ideally positioned to give Mandarine Napoléon the dedicated focus it deserves to carry its legacy forward.”
De Kuyper purchased Mandarine Napoléon in 2009 from the Fourcroy family. The brand’s history dates to 1892, with its name originating from Napoléon Bonaparte.
The 38% ABV product is made at De Kuyper’s distillery in Schiedam from a blend of Sicilian mandarin peels, 10-year-old Cognac and more than 20 ‘secret’ botanicals. It is predominantly used in cocktails.
Pages Védrenne said the acquisition would strengthen its ‘mission to preserve and develop authentic heritage liqueurs’.
Mandarine Napoléon will join Pages Védrenne’s portfolio of French spirits, which includes Védrenne liqueurs and syrups, Pagès liqueurs, Salers Gentiane liqueur, Izarra liqueur, Cognac Paulet, Le Birlou liqueur, Le Parfumeur gin, and Cobalte vodka. It also produces Ivernel Champagne.
“Our commitment is to honour Mandarine Napoléon’s remarkable heritage while opening new opportunities for growth within our ecosystem of craft distilleries and liqueur producers,” said Amaury and Julien Cointreau, vice-presidents of Iconic Nectars, in a joint statement.
“Thanks to Pages Védrenne’s century-old mastery of fruit maceration, distillation and extraction, the arrival of this legendary liqueur seamlessly aligns with a legacy built on authenticity, terroir expression and artisanal excellence.”
They also noted that the deal would create synergies across distribution networks.
Headquartered in Schiedam, family-owned firm De Kuyper is known for its eponymous brand, which has a line of liqueurs, syrups, batched and ready-to-serve cocktails, and alcohol-free products.
The company’s portfolio also includes Rutte Gin, and liqueur brands Peachtree, Cherry Heering, Kwai Feh, Aqua Bianca, and Archers, the latter of which it acquired from Diageo in 2022.
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