Allied Domecq

Allied Domecq PLC was an international company, headquartered in Bristol, UK that operated spirits, wine, and quick service restaurant businesses.

History

Allied Domecq was the result of a 1994 merger between Allied Lyons and Pedro Domecq. [http://www.dunkinbrands.com/aboutus/history.html Corporate History of Dunkin' Brands] from the Dunkin' Brands website] . Allied Lyons was the result of a 1978 merger between Allied Breweries and the food and catering group J. Lyons and Co. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6544797.stm Vanished UK drink is toast of Caribbean] , an April 2007 article from the BBC website]

In the mid 1980s, Allied Lyons PLC entered into a purchase agreement with Hiram Walker-Gooderham & Worts Ltd., the Canadian based distillers of Canadian Club and other brands. The agreement was contested by Olympia and York who had bought up the vast majority of Hiram Walker stock. Their highly-publicized legal battle for control ended in 1987 with Olympia and York becoming Allied Lyons' largest shareholder.Fact|date=April 2007

In early 2005, a takeover bid for the company was launched by French-based rival Pernod Ricard SA. Pernod Ricard successfully completed acquisition on 26 July 2005 and sold off the overlapping spirits brands to U.S.-based competitor Fortune Brands and British giant Diageo. [ [http://www.pernod-ricard.com/en/pages/2707/Press-releases/Pernod-Ricard-successfully-completes-acquisition-of-Allied-Domecq.html Pernod Ricard successfully completes acquisition of Allied Domecq] , from the Pernod Ricard website] On 12 December 2005, Pernod Ricard announced that it had agreed to sell the restaurant businesses (Dunkin' Brands) to a consortium of three US private equity firms (Thomas H. Lee Partners, the Carlyle Group and Bain Capital LLP) for $2.43 billion. The closing of the sale occurred on March 1, 2006.

Portfolio at time of takeover

Allied Domecq's spirits division operated a combination of nine core global brands, plus a selection of local market leaders. Their product portfolio included:
* Beefeater gin
* Ballantine's whisky
* Teachers Highland Cream whisky
* Laphroaig, a malt whisky from Islay
* Courvoisier cognac
* Canadian Club whisky
* Kahlúa coffee liqueur
* Malibu, a coconut-flavoured rum-based spirit
* Maker's Mark, a Kentucky bourbon whiskey
* Montana Wines, a large New Zealand wine producer.
* Mumm champagne
* Perrier Jouet champagne
* Don Pedro Brandy
* Stolichnaya vodka
* Tia Maria liqueur
* Cockburn's Port
* Harvey's Bristol Cream sherry

Brands acquired by Fortune Brands:
* Sauza tequila
* Courvoisier cognac
* Canadian Club whisky
* Clos du Bois and other Sonoma and Napa wine brands
* Laphroaig malt whisky
* Maker's Mark bourbon
* Teacher’s Scotch whisky
* Cockburn port
* Harveys sherries
* Larios gin
* DYC whisky
* Fundador Spanish brandy
* Centenario Spanish brandy
* Kuemmerling German bitters

References