Belvédère Group, Imperial Brands boost Canada team - 02/10/09
Published: 02/10/09
Source: ©The Moodie Report
By Mary Jane Pittilla, Brands Editor
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Left: Imperial Brands Inc Vice President/General Manager Canada Shayne Ackerl; Right: Imperial Brands Inc Regional Director Sales Ontario/Duty Free Boris Kariev
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NORTH AMERICA. The Belvédère Group, producer of award-winning spirits Sobieski and Danzka vodkas, has given the responsibility for the Canadian market to Imperial Brands Inc, the group’s US subsidiary.
The move is part of Belvédère’s continued efforts to strengthen its Canadian presence and focus on sales and marketing development in the country.
As part of the new organisation, Shayne Ackerl has been appointed Vice President Canadian Market, reporting to Imperial Brands President Chester Brandes. Boris Kariev, who has been representing the Belvédère Group in Canada for the last few years, will report to Ackerl and focus on Ontario and duty free.
Florida-based Imperial Brands has, at the same time, appointed Authentic Wines & Spirits Merchants, a division of the Charton Hobbs Group of Companies, to be the national agency for the Belvédère Group’s core brands. The Belvédère portfolio includes Sobieski Vodka, one of the fastest-growing premium vodkas in the world and the number one selling premium vodka in Poland; Danzka Vodka; and Marie Brizard Liqueurs, which are sold nationally in Canada.
Commenting on the future of the business in Canada, Brandes said: “This move represents a clear strengthening of our presence in Canada, as we now have an experienced local management team in place and a strategic alliance with Authentic Wines & Spirits Merchants, the fastest-growing new agency company in Canada. We will focus on developing our brands across Canada with the primary objective the launch of the group’s core brand, Sobieski Vodka, in close co-operation with our agent and the provincial Liquor Boards.”
Belvédère Duty Free Sales Director Torben Vedel Andersen expressed his optimism about the impact this new strategic initiative will have on the brands in the Belvédère portfolio. “This will enable us to service all provinces in duty free and improve our sales and marketing efforts in Ontario and Quebec. We are very pleased with this improvement,” he enthused.
About Belvédère Duty Free A/S
Belvédère Duty Free A/S, based in Copenhagen, Denmark, is responsible for the sales of the entire Belvédère spirits and liqueurs portfolio in global duty free. Leading this portfolio are Danzka Vodka, the fourth best-selling premium vodka in global duty free, Sobieski Vodka, the world's seventh best-selling premium vodka with sales of more than 2.5 million cases, and French premium liqueur brand Marie Brizard. Belvédère Duty Free is owned by European spirits producer Belvédère SA, which is based in France and is listed on the French Stock Exchange. Belvédère SA has major production facilities in Poland, France, the US, Bulgaria and Lithuania.
MORE STORIES ON BELVÉDÈRE DUTY FREE
Belvédère Duty Free unveils Danzka ‘design evolution’ – 21/09/09
Belvédère Duty Free aiming to expand Sobieski and Danzka vodka brands in Asia – 01/05/09
Bruce Willis partners with Sobieski in new campaign – 27/04/09
Belvédère Duty Free’s Danzka and Sobieski vodkas make Indian debuts with Kyndal – 21/04/09
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