International drinks group, Quintessential Brands, has announced the acquisition of the First Ireland Spirits Company Ltd, Ireland’s largest independent producer of Irish Cream Liqueurs and Irish Country Creams.
The multi-million Euro investment is part of Quintessential Brands’ on-going strategy to acquire drinks companies that complement its existing portfolio of brands, enhance its industry services and provide additional route to market capabilities in line with Quintessential Brands’ ambitious growth and investment plans.
First Ireland Spirits today produces and sells over 700,000 cases of Irish Cream Liqueurs and Irish Country Creams across 35 markets worldwide for some of the world’s largest retailers and drinks companies. It is Ireland’s leading independent producer of private label Irish cream liqueurs and also its leading producer of branded and private label Irish country cream.
Quintessential Brands’ co-founder and Chairman, Enzo Visone, commented: “The acquisition of First Ireland Spirits gives us an unrivalled position in the global market for Irish cream liqueurs and is part of our strategy to become a leading European independent player in the spirits industry.
“First Ireland Spirits has well-established customer and international distribution platforms, a strong portfolio of brands and proven production capabilities, which will add to our branded and private label businesses, enhance our route to market capability and open up new opportunities in other dynamic spirits and liqueurs categories. The acquisition by Quintessential Brands ensures management and employees of First Ireland Spirits have an exciting future as we pursue our ambitious plans to expand our operations in Ireland,” he said.
Owen Brady, one of the founders of First Ireland Spirits, added: “Having created First Ireland Spirits in 1993 and built the business over the last 20 years it is an appropriate point in time for First Ireland Spirits to become part of a larger spirits group. As part of Quintessential Brands, First Ireland Spirits will now have the opportunity to grow sales in the international Irish cream markets as well as expand into other Irish spirits categories. I am very proud of what we have built over the years and this deal represents an exciting opportunity for the company and its employees.”
