By Amy Looker
William Grant & Sons has announced plans to form an Australian subsidiary to manage and distribute its products to the local market.
Known as WGS Australia, the new company will allow the family-owned distillers to further increase awareness of its global brand portfolio in the Australian market, where Glenfiddich Single Malt is already a category leader.
Core William Grant & Sons’ brands include Glenfiddich, Grant’s, Balvenie and Hendrick’s Gin.
The William Grant & Sons portfolio has been managed by Suntory Australia for the past three years, with the distribution arrangement to stay in place until the end of this year.
“The formation of WGS Australia is an exciting step for William Grant & Sons Ltd,” said William Grant & Sons CEO, Stella David.
“We would like to thank Suntory Australia for their commitment to our business and their enthusiasm and support over the last three years, cementing a strong position for our brands including Glenfiddich, The Balvenie and Grant’s. We look forward to building on their good work across our brand portfolio.”
Suntory Australia’s managing director, Ian Atherton, said he was extremely proud of the success the Suntory team had achieved with William Grant & Sons’ portfolio.
“We were fortunate to work with such exceptional brands and I would like to thank our trade partners and the Suntory team for their dedication, passion and success in taking the Grant’s brand from fourth in the scotch market to second. We wish WGS Australia the very best for the future.”