BG and Edrington form sales alliance

Beam Global Spirits & Wine and The Edrington Group have set up a n

international sales and distribution alliance built on the

Maxxium distribution network.

The news came as Pernod Ricard announced the early withdrawal from Maxxium of Absolut Vodka and other former V&S brands on Oct 1, 2008. Rémy-Cointreau will leave Maxxium on March 30, 2009, as previously announced.

The new alliance will be "largely built on the existing Maxxium organisation" and will launch on March 31, 2009.

Emrys Inker, The Edrington Group's corporate affairs director, refused to comment on speculation that Maxxium will break up, or

whether jobs will be lost. "At this stage we are still evaluating

the future of the Maxxium organisation ," he said.

The alliance will span 24 markets with combined sales of more than £825 million ,

and aims to drive value and growth in those markets with its combined portfolio

.

In a joint statement, Beam Global president Tom Flocco

and Ian Curle, chief executive

of the Edrington Group, said: "It enables the collective strength of our combined

portfolios

to flourish in a more efficient

distribution vehicle. "