Major European drinks group buys Laois drinks firm

A European drinks group has bought an Irish producer of Irish cream liqueurs and Irish country creams.

Major European drinks group buys Laois drinks firm

A European drinks group has bought an Irish producer of Irish cream liqueurs and Irish country creams.

Quintessential Brands bought the First Ireland Spirits Company Ltd., which produces O’Mara’s Irish Country Cream, Feeney’s Irish Cream Liqueur and The Dubliner Irish Whiskey Liqueur, and was established in 1993 employing around 50 people.

The company, based in Abbeyleix, Co. Laois, has a list of clients that includes SuperValu, Dunnes Stores, Tesco, Asda, Walmart and Woolworths (Australia) and sells its products in Mexico, Peru, Russia, Nigeria, USA and Germany.

Quintessential Brands’ co-founder and Director, Warren Scott, said: "The acquisition of First Ireland Spirits offers us an unrivalled foothold in the global market for Irish cream liqueurs.

"First Ireland Spirits has been producing fine Irish cream products in Abbeyleix for more than two decades, and will enhance our branded and private label businesses, enhance our route to market capability and open up new opportunities in other dynamic spirits and liqueurs categories.

Owen Brady, one of the founders of First Ireland Spirits, said: "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."

The Quintessential Brands portfolio includes Greenall's Original Gin, BLOOM Gin, Berkeley Square London Dry Gin, Opihr Oriental Spiced Gin and Toussaint Coffee Rum Liqueur, which are all produced by G&J Distillers.

G&J Distillers is the UK’s leading distiller and bottler of premium gin and vodka, producing 60% of gin in the UK and over 20% of premium gin worldwide. G&J Distillers is the UK’s oldest producer of premium gin and has been distilling since 1761.

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