An open letter from Mike Nield - G&J Greenall welcomes new ownership

Dear partners and friends,

I am writing to you all with very positive news.

For the last 10 years G&J Greenall have been a small part of the AHG / De Vere hotel group.  However, as of 11:30 pm on Friday night, G&J Greenall became a truly independent drinks organisation.

G&J Greenall Spirits Holdings Ltd, headed by Enzo Visone and Warren Scott, concluded the purchase of G&J Greenall from the AHG / De Vere group.  Enzo brings with him 25 years of drinks industry experience, having over seen the aggressive expansion of the Skyy Campari Group through the 1990's and early years of the 21st century.  Enzo and Warren have become non-Executive Directors of the new Greenall entity.

The message is very clear. 

G&J Greenall remain an independent gin and vodka manufacturer, sales and marketing company.  There is no change to the Board or any members of the staff at G&J, there are no conflicts of interest as a result of this change, and there is no change to the product portfolio offered by G&J Greenall.  We believe that the changes will only be beneficial - we are now a 100% focused drinks company, with a leaner, more knowledgeable and more responsive senior executive structure.   We look forward to the future, with our trusted partners, with re-newed enthusiasm.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me this week before my Summer vacation.

Please feel free to pass this information on to all key customers.

With best regards and raising a glass to the exciting times ahead of us,

Mike Nield

Formal press release below.

 

A NEW CHAPTER FOR G&J GREENALL

G&J Greenall, the UK’s  leading distiller and bottler of super premium quality gin and vodka welcomes new ownership and looks strong for future growth

The agreed deal is in the form of a management buy-in, buy-out and sees the formation of a new company, G&J Greenall Group Limited, led by the current CEO Christian Rose alongside new non executive directors Enzo Visone and Warren Scott.

The Warrington distiller, which celebrates 250 years of continuous distilling in 2011 produces over 50% of the UK's own label gin and vodka plus super premium branded gins and vodka including the number two mainstream branded gin in the market, it has been a part of the De Vere Group until the sale.  Total sales in the year to the end of December 2010 were £50m.

A core business focus will be the strengthening of the branded portfolio, which includes Greenalls gin alongside recent launches of Bloom and Berkeley Square.

The new ownership comes following the recent successful launch of the portfolio into the US market and an amazing turn around in the company over the past two years.

Christian Rose, CEO of newly formed G&J Greenall Group Limited said; “This represents an extremely exciting time for the company as we look towards the future of our business.  Never before have we been more focussed on our branded portfolio of products alongside our third party bulk and bottling contracts.


The move is intended to strengthen the position of G&J Greenall as one of the UK’s leading distillers of quality spirits and indeed,the future of the entire business overall.  We will be working closely with the current management and new investors to continue our recent growth and capitalize on our innovations in both the on and off trade.”