WILLIAM GRANT & SONS – STRONGER THAN EVER IN CANNES THIS YEAR

William Grant & Sons (WGS) will be attending TFWA World Exhibition this year (Golden Village GO2) in a stronger than ever position. Now the 6^th largest brand owner in travel retail*, with sales performance well ahead of the market, WGS brings its world-leading portfolio to Cannes following a record year in 2016 with retail sales +21% and continued growth during 2017.

With premiumisation a continuing trend, WGS will be using TFWA WE to introduce a number of new expressions to the travel retail sector for core brands Glenfiddich, The Balvenie and Tullamore D.E.W, details of which will be announced over the coming weeks.

Glenfiddich remains the flagship brand for WGS having regained the number 1 single malt position in value and volume sales last year, according to IWSR figures, enabling it to enter the top ten spirit brands in the channel.

Apart from Glenfiddich, WGS brands offer many positive messages which will be shared with buyers in Cannes this year. Headlines include:

*    The Balvenie, growing +23.8%, is the 4^th largest single malt in travel retail

•       Hendrick’s remains the strong leader in super premium gin with a 56% share

•       Monkey Shoulder grew value sales +95%

•       Drambuie value sales grew +18% in a flat category

•       Sailor Jerry grew value sales +18% ahead of the category

William Grant & Sons Global Travel Retail Managing Director Ed Cottrell comments. “We’ve got some incredibly exciting brand stories to share with customers this year which, on the back of our phenomenal results in 2016 and continuing success in 2017, place William Grant & Sons at the forefront of innovation and drive within the travel retail sector. Alongside new expressions for the sector – both exclusives and global initiatives – we’ve got some amazing successes to report including the excellent response to the refreshed Glenfiddich Cask Collection, introduced here last year.”

WGS will be revealing all to the trade in the next few weeks, with its main Glenfiddich brand story theming its annual party on Tuesday October 2^nd.”