The Edrington Group
Edrington, formerly known as The Edrington Group, is a privately-owned international spirits company, based in Scotland. It is predominantly known for Scotch whisky and produces several well-known blended brands, including The Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark, and premium single malts The Macallan and Highland Park. The spirits portfolio also includes Brugal, the leading golden rum in the Caribbean and Snow Leopard vodka.
Based in Glasgow, it is one of Scotland's leading privately held companies. It employs approximately 2,300 people, with approximately 900 people based in Scotland. Approximately 60% of the workforce is based outside Scotland.
History
William A Robertson began business in the city of Glasgow in 1850, forming Robertson & Baxter in 1860. In 1885 the company took a share holding in the North British Distillery Company.
The Robertson Trust bears the family name of the Robertson sisters (Elspeth, Agnes and Ethel) who had inherited the Scotch whisky interests founded and developed by their grandfather and father. Keen to ensure the independence of the company, the welfare of its employees and to continue their tradition of supporting good causes in Scotland, in 1961 the sisters created The Edrington Group (named after a farm near their home in the Scottish Borders) to hold their interests and established The Robertson Trust (registered Scottish charity SC002970),[1] a charitable trust which owns all voting shares in the company. The Robertson Trust is Scotland's largest independent grant-making charitable Trust, and is funded by the dividend income of its shares in Edrington. Since 1961 the Trust has donated more than £150 million to charities in Scotland and given financial support to young people from deprived backgrounds who are attending higher education.
In the New Year Honours 2008, former chairman, John James Griffin Good, was made a Knight Bachelor "for services to Scotland".[2] In 2010, Edrington was named "outstanding private company" in Scotland plc awards.
Brands
Core brands
- The Famous Grouse
- Cutty Sark
- The Macallan
- Highland Park
- Brugal
- Snow Leopard (vodka)
Operations
Over the past five years Edrington has increased the international nature of its business through the acquisition of brands and sales and distribution companies in key markets. Its brands are distributed across the world by a network of wholly owned companies, joint venture companies and third party distributors.
- In February, 2008 the company bought a majority shareholding in Brugal, the leading golden rum in the Caribbean.
- In April 2010 Edrington acquired the Cutty Sark blended Scotch whisky brand from long-standing trading partner Berry Bros & Rudd.
- In 2014 Edrington moved its Asia headquarters from Hong Kong to Singapore and created a new regional hub for Asia - Edrington Asia Pacific.
- In April 2014, Edrington ended its relationship with Remy Cointreau in the United States, and created its own distribution company - Edrington Americas
- Edrington Global Travel Retail was created in 2015. It is based in the company's Asia Pacific Headquarters in Singapore.