Pernod Ricard has commenced the canning of RTDs at its site in Arkansas thanks to a US$22m spend.
The investment, as the facility in Fort Smith, is in response to the growing trend toward convenience in the country. Among the brands to benefit from the canning line are Absolut, Jameson and Malibu.
The plant already handles production for the likes of coffee liqueur Kahlua and Seagram’s Gin.
“Our ambition is to become a global player in the RTD category, leveraging some of our global iconic brands, so it was a natural step for us to build in-house production capability, especially in the US, the largest RTD market in the world,” said Pernod Ricard’s global MD of RTD & convenience, Fredrik Syren. “We are looking forward to the next chapter of Pernod Ricard’s RTD business in this dynamic and effervescent market.”
Speaking exclusively to Global Drinks Intel earlier this year, Syren highlighted the segment’s strong potential for growth. “The RTD category is moving very fast, both in its innovation and in how it operates,” he said. “For the RTD category, winning the battle at point-of-sale is really important.”
