Pernod Ricard () is a French company best known for its
anise-flavoured
pastis
Pastis (; oc, Pastís, ; or ) is an anise-flavoured spirit and apéritif traditionally from France, typically containing less than 100 g/L sugar and 40–45% ABV (alcohol by volume).
Origins
Pastis was first commercialized by Paul Ricard i ...
apéritifs Pernod Anise and Ricard Pastis (often referred to simply as ''Pernod'' or ''
Ricard''). The world’s second-largest wine and spirits seller,
it also produces several other types of pastis.
History
After the banning of
absinthe, Pernod Ricard was created from the
Pernod Fils company, which had produced absinthe. Pernod Ricard owned the distilled beverage division of the former corporation
Seagram
The Seagram Company Ltd. (which traded as Seagram's) was a Canadian multinational conglomerate formerly headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. Originally a distiller of Canadian whisky based in Waterloo, Ontario, it was once (in the 1990s) the ...
(including brands like
Chivas Regal) until 2006, along with many other holdings. In 2005, the company acquired a British-based competitor,
Allied Domecq PLC.
In 2008, Pernod Ricard announced its acquisition of Swedish-based
V&S Group, which produces
Absolut Vodka
Absolut Vodka is a brand of vodka, produced near Åhus, in southern Sweden. Absolut is a part of the French group Pernod Ricard. Pernod Ricard bought Absolut for €5.63 billion in 2008 from the Swedish state. Absolut is one of the largest brands ...
. In 2013, Pernod Ricard joined leading alcohol producers as part of a
producers' commitments to reducing harmful drinking.
In December 2018,
Elliott Management Corporation purchased a 2.5% stake in Pernod Ricard.In December 2022, Pernot Ricard announced plans to open a US$250 million
carbon-neutral
Carbon neutrality is a state of net-zero carbon dioxide emissions. This can be achieved by balancing emissions of carbon dioxide with its removal (often through carbon offsetting) or by eliminating emissions from society (the transition to the " ...
whiskey distillery in
Marion County, Kentucky in 2025.
According to the NGO Alliance Anticorrida, Pernod Ricard was the major funder of
bullfighting in France, financing bullfighting clubs and sponsoring
corridas despite the
opposition of a majority of French citizens to
blood sports
A blood sport or bloodsport is a category of sport or entertainment that involves bloodshed. Common examples of the former include combat sports such as cockfighting and dog fighting, and some forms of hunting and fishing. Activities char ...
. In 2020, Pernod Ricard ended the association with bullfighting clubs.
Pernod
*1797 – , a Swiss
distiller, opens his first absinthe distillery in Switzerland.
*1805 – Maison Pernod Fils (simply known as Pernod Fils) is founded in
Pontarlier,
Franche-Comté
Franche-Comté (, ; ; Frainc-Comtou: ''Fraintche-Comtè''; frp, Franche-Comtât; also german: Freigrafschaft; es, Franco Condado; all ) is a cultural and historical region of eastern France. It is composed of the modern departments of Doubs, ...
, eastern France, by Henri-Louis Pernod and begins production of the
anise-flavored spirit known as
absinthe.
*1850 – Henri-Louis Pernod dies.
*1871 – Distillerie Hémard is founded near Paris.
*1872 – Société Pernod Père & Fils opens in
Avignon.
*1915 – Production and consumption of absinthe is prohibited in France.
*1926 – All 3 distilleries merge to form Les Établissements Pernod.
*1951 – Pastis 51 is launched.
*1965 – Takeover of Distillerie Rousseau, Laurens et Moureaux, producer of
Suze liquor since 1889.
Ricard
*1932 – ''Ricard'', which soon becomes France's favorite
long drink, is founded in
Marseille
Marseille ( , , ; also spelled in English as Marseilles; oc, Marselha ) is the prefecture of the French department of Bouches-du-Rhône and capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Situated in the camargue region of southern Fra ...
by
Paul Ricard
Paul Louis Marius Ricard (; July 9, 1909 – November 7, 1997) was a French industrialist and creator of an eponymous pastis brand which merged in 1975 with its competitor Pernod to create Pernod Ricard. Ricard was also an environmentalist and t ...
.
*1940 – Production of pastis is prohibited by the
Vichy
Vichy (, ; ; oc, Vichèi, link=no, ) is a city in the Allier department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France, in the historic province of Bourbonnais.
It is a spa and resort town and in World War II was the capital of ...
regime.
*1944 – Production of pastis becomes legal again.
*1968 – Paul Ricard retires; his son Patrick becomes CEO in 1978.
Pernod Ricard
*1975 – Old rivals Pernod and Ricard merge to form Pernod Ricard S.A..
*1988 – Pernod Ricard acquires
Irish Distillers (which includes
Jameson Irish whiskeys).
*1989 – Pernod Ricard acquires
Orlando Wyndham (makers of
Jacob's Creek).
*1993 – Pernod Ricard works with Cuban companies to create
Havana Club
Havana Club is a brand of rum created in Cuba in 1934. Originally produced in Cárdenas, Cuba, by family-owned José Arechabala S.A., the brand was nationalized after the Cuban Revolution of 1959. In 1993, French-owned Pernod Ricard and the go ...
International.
*1998 – Pernod Ricard acquires the
Yerevan Brandy Company
Yerevan Brandy Company ( (''Yerevani Konyaki Gortsaran'')), commonly known with its famous brand "ArArAt", is the leading enterprise of Armenia for the production of cognac. It was founded in 1887, during the period of the Russian Empire. After ...
.
*2001 – Pernod Ricard purchases 38% of
Seagram's
The Seagram Company Ltd. (which traded as Seagram's) was a Canadian multinational conglomerate formerly headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. Originally a distiller of Canadian whisky based in Waterloo, Ontario, it was once (in the 1990s) the lar ...
Wines and Spirits business.
*2005 – Pernod Ricard purchases
Allied Domecq
Allied Domecq PLC was an international company, headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom, that operated spirits, wine, and quick service restaurant businesses. It was once a FTSE 100 Index constituent but has been acquired by Pernod Ricard. The ...
.
*2008 – Pernod Ricard purchases
V&S Group, including the
Absolut Vodka
Absolut Vodka is a brand of vodka, produced near Åhus, in southern Sweden. Absolut is a part of the French group Pernod Ricard. Pernod Ricard bought Absolut for €5.63 billion in 2008 from the Swedish state. Absolut is one of the largest brands ...
brand, from the Swedish government.
*2022 - Pernod Ricard acquired the
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
ready-to-serve cocktail brand, Cockorico.
Subsidiaries
*Chivas Brothers Ltd – whisky and gin branch of Pernod Ricard. Owner of 13 Scotch malt distilleries, 1 grain distillery and 2 gin distilleries.
*''
Pernod Ricard Winemakers
Pernod Ricard Winemakers is the wholly owned wine subsidiary of French wine and spirits producer Pernod Ricard, which is one of the largest alcoholic beverage companies in the world. It arose from the Australian and New Zealand companies forme ...
'' – owner of
Jacob's Creek,
Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, Ysios, Tarsus, Aura, Azpilicueta, and Siglo
*''
Corby Distilleries
Corby Spirit and Wine Limited is a Canadian alcohol manufacturing and distribution company. It was founded in 1859 in Corbyville, Ontario. As of 2008, the company is 46% owned by Pernod Ricard. The company distills several Canadian specialities, ...
'' – Canadian subsidiary; owner of
Wiser's whisky
Established in 1857, J.P. Wiser's Whisky is one of Canada's oldest continuously produced Canadian whiskeys. Hiram Walker & Sons Limited currently produces it at their Windsor, Ontario, . Since 1935, J.P. Wiser's has been the majority shareholder ...
, Lamb's rum; Hiram Walker & Sons Limited is majority shareholder of Corby and itself unit of Pernod Ricard
*''Pernod Ricard Rouss'' – subsidiary in the Russian Federation
*''
Irish Distillers'' – Irish subsidiary
*''Pernod Ricard Armenia'' – Armenian subsidiary and owner of
Yerevan Brandy Company
Yerevan Brandy Company ( (''Yerevani Konyaki Gortsaran'')), commonly known with its famous brand "ArArAt", is the leading enterprise of Armenia for the production of cognac. It was founded in 1887, during the period of the Russian Empire. After ...
*''Pernod Ricard Hellas'' – subsidiary in Greece
*''Pernod Ricard India'' – Indian subsidiary
Brands
; Whisky
; Vodkas
; Other
; Wine and Champagne
Pernod Ricard previously owned the non-alcoholic chocolate beverage
Yoo-hoo
Yoo-hoo is an American brand of chocolate-flavored beverage that was developed by Natale Olivieri in Garfield, New Jersey, in 1928 and is currently manufactured by Mott's. As of 2019, the drink is primarily made from water, high-fructose corn sy ...
, which was acquired from a group of private investors in 1989. Pernod Ricard also previously owned the carbonated citrus drink
Orangina. Both brands were sold in 2001 to
Cadbury Schweppes.
References
External links
*
{{Euro Stoxx 50 Companies
Distilleries in France
French brands
Holding companies of France
Multinational companies headquartered in France
Absinthe
Anise liqueurs and spirits
French companies established in 1975
Food and drink companies established in 1975
Holding companies established in 1975
CAC 40
Companies in the Euro Stoxx 50
Companies listed on Euronext Paris