Pernod Ricard (French: [pɛʁno ʁikaʁ]) is a French company best known for its anise-flavoured pastis apéritifs Pernod Anise and Ricard Pastis (often referred to simply as Pernod or Ricard). The world's second-largest wine and spirits seller,[3] it also produces several other types of pastis.

Pernod Ricard S.A.
Company typePublic (Société Anonyme)
Euronext ParisRI
CAC 40 component
ISINFR0000120693 Edit this on Wikidata
IndustryDrink industry
Founded1975; 49 years ago (1975)
FounderPaul Ricard
Headquarters,
France
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Alexandre Ricard (Chairman & Chief Executive Officer)[1]
ProductsAlcoholic beverages
RevenueIncrease 12.14 billion (2023)[2]
Increase €3.35 billion (2023)
Increase €2.28 billion (2023)
Number of employees
19,480 (2023)
Websitepernod-ricard.com

History

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Pernod

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  • 1797 – Henri-Louis Pernod [fr], a Swiss distiller, opens his first absinthe distillery in Switzerland.
  • 1805 – Maison Pernod Fils (simply known as Pernod Fils) is founded in Pontarlier, Franche-Comté, eastern France, by Henri-Louis Pernod and begins production of the anise-flavored spirit known as absinthe.
  • 1850 – Henri-Louis Pernod dies.
  • 1871 – Distillerie Hémard is founded near Paris.
  • 1872 – Société Pernod Père & Fils opens in Avignon.
  • 1915 – Production and consumption of absinthe is prohibited in France.
  • 1926 – All 3 distilleries merge to form Les Établissements Pernod.
  • 1951 – Pastis 51 is launched.
  • 1965 – Takeover of Distillerie Rousseau, Laurens et Moureaux, producer of Suze liquor since 1889.
     
    Pernod mixed with water and ice

Ricard

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  • 1932 – Ricard, which soon becomes France's favorite long drink, is founded in Marseille by Paul Ricard.
  • 1940 – Production of pastis is prohibited by the Vichy regime.[clarification needed]
  • 1944 – Production of pastis becomes legal again.
  • 1968 – Paul Ricard retires; his son Patrick becomes CEO in 1978.
     
    A bottle of Ricard

Pernod Ricard

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In 1975, the companies of Pernod Fils and Ricard, the two largest French aniseed aperitif producers and fierce competitors, merged creating the Pernod Ricard group.[4]

In 1988, Pernod Ricard acquired Irish Distillers makers of Jameson Irish whiskeys.[5]

In 1989, Pernod Ricard acquired Orlando Wyndham makers of Jacob's Creek.[6]

In 1993, Pernod Ricard worked with Cuban companies to create Havana Club.[7]

In 1999, Pernod Ricard acquired the Yerevan Brandy Company.[8]

In 2001, Pernod Ricard acquired 38% of Seagram's Wines and Spirits business including Chivas Brothers Ltd makers of Chivas Regal and owner of 13 Scotch malt distilleries, 1 grain distillery and 2 gin distilleries.[9]

In 2001, Pernod Ricard acquired Jan Becher, makers of Becherovka.

In 2005, Pernod Ricard acquired Allied Domecq, makers of Ballantine's.[10]

In 2008, Pernod Ricard announced its acquisition of Swedish-based V&S Group, which produces Absolut Vodka, from the Swedish government.[11]

In 2013, Pernod Ricard joined leading alcohol producers as part of a producers' commitments to reducing harmful drinking.[12]

In December 2018, Elliott Management Corporation purchased a 2.5% stake in Pernod Ricard.[13]

According to the Anti-Corrida Alliance, Pernod Ricard was the major funder of bullfighting in France,[14][15] financing bullfighting clubs and sponsoring corridas despite the opposition of a majority of French citizens to blood sports. In 2020, Pernod Ricard ended the association with bullfighting clubs.[16]

In 2022, Pernod Ricard acquired the French ready-to-serve cocktail brand, Cockorico.[17]

In December 2022, Pernot Ricard announced plans to open a US$250 million carbon-neutral whiskey distillery in Marion County, Kentucky in 2025.[18]

In 2023, Pernod Ricard decided to resume limited exports of Beefeater Gin and Jameson Irish Whiskey to Russia.[19][20] After being faced with protests and calls for a portfolio-wide boycott of all its brands Pernod Ricard decided to end all exports of its international brands to Russia.[21]

In December 2023, Pernod Ricard has released The Chuan Pure Malt Whisky, its inaugural Chinese whisky.[22]

In October 2024, Pernod Ricard agrees to sold Minttu liqueur and its portfolio of Nordic local brands to the Finnish beverage company Hartwall.[23]

Subsidiaries

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Brands

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Pernod Ricard beverage brands include:[25]

References

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  1. ^ "Registration Document (with AMF) 2011/2012" (PDF). Pernod Ricard. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-12. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
  2. ^ "FY23 Full-year Sales and Results". Pernod Ricard. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  3. ^ "The bosses of two famous French firms struggle to keep customers". The Economist. 5 October 2017.
  4. ^ "Pernod Ricard". Drinks and Co. 17 January 2021. Archived from the original on 13 July 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Pernod-Ricard Prevails in Battle for Irish Distillers". The New York Times. 25 November 1988. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  6. ^ "About St Hugo". Wine-Searcher. 12 October 2016. Retrieved 2018-06-24.
  7. ^ Decker, Susan (29 March 2011). "Pernod Ricard Loses Appeals Court Ruling in Bacardi 'Havana Club Fight". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  8. ^ "PERNOD RICARD ACQUIRES FAMED YEREVAN BRANDY COMPANY". jamestown.org. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  9. ^ Kapner, Suzanne (2000-12-20). "Diageo and Pernod Buy and Divide Up Seagram Beverage Assets". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  10. ^ Pernod Ricard successfully completes acquisition of Allied Domecq Archived 3 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine, from the Pernod Ricard website
  11. ^ "Pernod wins auction for Vin & Sprit". The Local. 2008-03-31. Retrieved 2008-03-31.
  12. ^ "Home | Producers' Commitments". Producers' Commitments. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
  13. ^ "Activist investor takes stake in Pernod Ricard". 12 December 2018.
  14. ^ "Alliance anti-corrida (Anti-Bullfighting Alliance)". Alliance anti-corrida. Archived from the original on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2015-06-26.
  15. ^ "Pernod Ricard, le plus gros sponsor [Pernod Ricard, bullfighting's major sponsor]". Alliance anti-corrida. Archived from the original on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2015-06-26.
  16. ^ "Pernod Ricard ends association with bullfighting clubs". www.drinks-insight-network.com. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  17. ^ "Pernod Ricard France acquires majority stake in cocktail brand Cockorico". FoodBev Media. 2022-12-23. Retrieved 2022-12-23.
  18. ^ Worford, David (2022-12-12). "Pernod Ricard Plans Carbon-Neutral Kentucky Distillery". Environment + Energy Leader. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
  19. ^ Abdul, Geneva; Belam, Martin; Mackay, Hamish; Sullivan, Helen; Belam, Geneva Abdul (now); Martin; Sullivan (earlier), Helen (2023-04-25). "Russia-Ukraine war live: Ukrainian forces 'conducting raids' across Dnieper River". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-04-25.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ "Pernod Ricard resumes Beefeater and Jameson exports to Russia". BBC. BBC News. April 26, 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  21. ^ Collins, Georgie (2023-05-15). "Pernod Ricard halts exports to Russia". The Spirits Business. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  22. ^ Carruthers, Nicola (2023-12-13). "Pernod reveals its first Chinese whisky". The Spirits Business. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  23. ^ Kiely, Melita (2024-10-18). "Pernod Ricard agrees to sell Nordic brands". The Spirits Business. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
  24. ^ "Pernod Ricard Hellas – The world's co-leader in wines and spirits". www.pernod-ricard-hellas.com. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  25. ^ "Our Brands | Pernod Ricard". www.pernod-ricard.com. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  26. ^ Hays, Constance L. (2000-01-26). "Orangina's owner still wants to sell brand, if the price is right". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-09-02.
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