Stock Spirits Group has broken out of its Central & Eastern Europe priority presence, acquiring UK-based distributor The Drinks Company.
The transaction, for an undisclosed sum, brings the UK distribution of Stock’s Sierra Tequila de México brand in-house. All of The Drinks Company’s existing operations, including its employee base, will transfer to the business’s new owner.
The Drinks Company, which commenced operations in 1996, will provide Stock with “an established route-to-market, allowing the group to enhance its ability to serve UK customers”.
“Expanding into the UK is a pivotal moment for the group,” said Stock CEO – and former Pernod Ricard executive – Jean-Christophe Coutures. “Our vision is to become a leading spirits company in Europe by 2027 and a foothold in the UK is key to achieving this success.
“With its proven track record in the market, and significant Stock presence with our … Sierra Tequila brand, this acquisition marks the next logical step in realising our ambition to build a broader European footprint.”
Subsequent to the acquisition, Stock has appointed a GM for the UK; Rob Curteis (above) has assumed the position this week, adding to a career that has included seven years at William Grant & Sons (2006-2013), four-and-a-half years with Proximo Spirits (2013-2017) and five years at Quintessential Brands (2017-2022).
Most recently, Curteis was CMO at Romania’s Alexandrion Group, the owner of the Carpathian Single Malt and Siginia Italian gin brands, until August last year.
Stock inherited the Sierra brand through the purchase two years ago of its owner, Borco. The acquisition built on the addition a month earlier of blended scotch whisky brand Clan Campbell from Pernod Ricard, adding two spirits categories to Stock’s vodka-heavy portfolio.
