Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Friday, Jul 01, 2005
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Friday, Jul 01, 2005 |
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Marketing
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Strategy UB, Whyte & Mackay likely to team up Boby Kurian
Bangalore , June 30 THE Glasgow-based Scotch major Whyte & Mackay is likely to strike a fresh marketing and distribution agreement with the UB Group for some of its spirits brands in India. Whyte & Mackay (formerly Kyndal) has had an alliance with Shaw Wallace & Co Ltd (SWC), which was acquired by UB in a $300-million deal recently. Sources with both Whyte & Mackay and UB confirmed that the two companies were keen on the alliance. "We both have a long relationship with Whyte & Mackay marketing Black Dog Scotch Whisky, a brand originally from the stable of Carew Phipson (a UB Group company in the past), in many parts of the world. For UB, Whyte & Mackay's portfolio will bolster its premium international basket in the domestic market," sources said. An announcement regarding an alliance could be expected in the near future. Whyte & Mackay entered into a marketing and distribution arrangement with SWC in November 2001, and kick-started the alliance with the launch of Vladivar Vodka in the premium segment in April 2002. The two partners had also then announced plans to hit the market with ready-to-drink brand Veba and Scotch brands Findlaters and Dalmore. However, the arrangement did not cover much ground subsequently with the new rollouts being put on hold. Interestingly, Whyte & Mackay was one of the bidders in the fray for SWC's liquor business along with Ramesh Vangal-Newbridge combine and UB. The Scotch major has a 100 per cent wholesale trading subsidiary in the country — Kyndal India Pvt Ltd — which markets imported bottle-in-origin (BIO) brands, including Absolut Vodka. It is not yet clear what brands Whyte & Mackay would uncork in the country through the UB hands. The UK-based company's core brands include Whyte & Mackay Scotch Whisky, Dalmore Single Highland Malt, Glavya Liquer and Isle of Jura Malt Whisky. Whyte & Mackay also represents the interests of other trans-national spirits companies such as Fortune Brands and V&S Sprit in markets across the world.
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