Quintessential Brands has announced the reorganisation of its North American operations, forming a stand-alone business entity to serve the North American market, Quintessential Brands North America, LLC (QBNA).
The move follows a comprehensive review of the group’s route to the US market, and effective 1 May, QBNA will take over management and import responsibility for the company’s premium brands portfolio.
This includes a diverse range of award-winning gin, Irish whiskey, and Irish Cream brands, serving the US, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
Taking Control
The group will also offer retailers, distributors and brand owners a vast array of spirits solutions services, including bottling, packaging and new product development across a wide range of spirits categories.
QBNA will be led by Steve Ward as CEO, who joined Quintessential Brands in 2017. He previously worked with Remy Cointreau.
“The scope of brands, products, and services we bring to the market is second to none so as we now take control of our importing business in the US, we are determined to deliver a superior service to the distributors and retailers of our brands across America and drive improved awareness and resonance amongst consumers through a program of engaging marketing activity,” Ward said.
The Time Is Right
Co-Founder of Quintessential Brands Group and Executive Chairman, Enzo Visone, added that, following great success in UK, the group always had “great aspirations for North America when the time was right”.
“We believe that time is now,” he continued, “so by taking ownership of our route to market in North America, we can now become the masters of our destiny in the continent.
“The team we’ve assembled to drive the success we aspire to in North America is highly capable and ambitious to achieve our goals, so I’m confident this is the start of a new exciting chapter for Quintessential Brands as we begin to unlock our true potential in the Americas.”
Quintessential Brands North America is the company’s first independent venture outside of Europe.
© 2019 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Aidan O’Sullivan. Clicksign-up to subscribe to Checkout.
