By Deborah Jackson, editor National Liquor News
Suntory Wine International and the Yalumba Wine Company have announced an agreement for distribution of the Yalumba and Oxford Landing Estates brands in Japan effective 6 October.
The Yalumba and Oxford Landing Estates brands will be distributed by Suntory Liquors Ltd, a team of more than 1000 sales people which sells alcoholic beverages to both restaurants and retail outlets throughout Japan.
Nick Waterman, CEO of Yalumba, said he is excited to work with a company of the strength and size of Suntory.
“A big consideration for us was the fact that Suntory, like Yalumba which was founded in 1849, remains under family ownership. This partnership gives us the opportunity to grow significantly in the Japanese market which appears well poised for Australian wineries especially on the back of the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement which came into effect on January 15th 2015 and will see tariffs on wine eliminated over the next seven years,” said Waterman.
Previously Yalumba and Oxford Landing Estates have been distributed by Jeroboam in Japan.
Suntory, which owns Chateau Lagrange and Chateau Beychevelle in Bordeaux, is focused upon capitalising on the growing premium wine segment in Japan and has various partnerships with more than 150 international wineries.
Yuji Yamazaki, president and CEO of Suntory Wine International, said there is a good chance of growing the market of Australian wines in Japan, especially in the premium wine segment.
“Yalumba and Suntory have similar backgrounds, they both have over 100 years of history and never settle on tradition by seek for innovation. We are sure that Yalumba and Suntory will consolidate our partnership,” said Yamazaki.