CHICAGO, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Constellation Brands, Inc.
(NYSE: STZ, ASX: CBR), a leading international beverage alcohol producer and
marketer, today announced that its Chicago-based spirits company, Barton
Brands, has acquired the remaining 50 percent equity stake in its Planet 10
Spirits joint venture. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Planet 10 Spirits was formed in 2004 as an entrepreneurial premium spirits
brand development and marketing platform to expand Constellation's
participation in the fast-growing, super premium imported vodka category.
Planet 10 Spirits' leading product, Effen vodka from Holland, has achieved
widespread on- and off-premise distribution and consumer acceptance resulting
in a fivefold increase in Effen sales volume since the formation of the joint
venture. In addition, Effen has been successfully launched in key global
spirits markets such as the U.K., Canada, Japan and Australia.
"Our participation in the Planet 10 Spirits joint venture has given us
invaluable insights into the high-end spirits marketplace and has enabled us
to shape a strategy for growing this important piece of our business," said
Marty
Birkel, president of Barton Brands. "We are confident that our efforts to
expand our premium spirits portfolio will continue to provide profitable
growth and value creation for the long term. The addition of Planet 10 Spirits
to the Barton organization will provide us with a team of dedicated and
successful on-premise sales & marketing specialists who will continue to build
Effen and other select premium spirits brands within our portfolio."
About Barton Brands and Constellation Brands
Barton Brands, Ltd. is the spirits division of Constellation Brands, Inc.,
a leading international producer and marketer of beverage alcohol in the wine,
spirits and imported beer categories. Barton Brands is a major producer,
importer and exporter of a wide range of spirits products, including well-
known brands such as Black Velvet Canadian Whisky, Ridgemont Reserve 1792
bourbon, and Effen vodka. Constellation Brands, based in Fairport, N.Y., has
more than 250 brands in its portfolio, sales in approximately 150 countries
and operates approximately 60 wineries, distilleries and distribution
facilities. It is the largest wine producer in the world; the largest wine
company in the U.S. based upon sales dollar value, the largest wine company in
the U.K., Australia and Canada; the second largest wine company in New
Zealand; the largest beer importer and marketer in the U.S. through its Crown
Imports joint venture with Mexico's Grupo Modelo; and the third largest
spirits company in the U.S. Constellation Brands is an S&P 500 Index and
Fortune 500(R) company. Major brands in the company's portfolio, in addition
to those referenced above, include Corona Extra, the SVEDKA vodka line, Robert
Mondavi wines, Ravenswood, Blackstone, Hardys, Banrock Station, Nobilo, Kim
Crawford, Inniskillin, Jackson-Triggs and Arbor Mist. To learn more about
Constellation Brands and its divisions and product portfolio, visit the
company's Web site at www.cbrands.com.
SOURCE Constellation Brands, Inc.
Media, Mike Martin of Constellation Brands, Inc.; +1-585-218-3669, or Jim
Sabia of Barton Brands, +1-312-873-9246; or Investors, Patty Yahn-Urlaub,
+1-585-218-3838, or Bob Czudak, +1-585-218-3668, both of Constellation Brands,
Inc.
