Work has begun this week on the new site in Kameoka City in Japan’s Kyoto Prefecture at a cost to Pernod Ricard of EUR25m (US$26.8m). Scheduled to commence operations by late next year, the development will increase Ki No Bi’s capacity by “at least five times” compared to its current distillery in nearby Kyoto.
Confirming the purchase of an unspecified-size stake in Ki No Bi owner The Kyoto Distillery in March 2020, Pernod Ricard said at the time the “significant investment” will cover the building of “a new, state-of-the-art, distillery to meet the growing demand for Ki No Bi”.
A ground-breaking event has been held at the site, attended by Anna Schreil, the VP of operations at the company’s The Absolut Group division, which handles the brand along with the Beefeater, Malfy, Monkey 47 and Plymouth gins.
“Our farm-to-consumer philosophy, using local botanicals and ingredients will remain,” said The Kyoto Distillery’s head of distillery operations & strategic projects, Hiroyuki Nagai. “Our journey that began in 2016 evolves as we aim to capitalise on the opportunity to grow our global market share as an ultra-premium gin of choice.”
In results for the 12 months to the end of June last year, Beefeater, which is one of Pernod Ricard’s 13 headline brands, delivered a 10% increase in year-on-year sales. The group will announces its fiscal 2024 numbers on 29 August.
