Cognac Ferrand
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Alcoholic beverages |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founder | Jean Dominique Andreu Alexandre Gabriel |
| Headquarters | Ars-sur-Formans |
| Products | Cognacs |
| Website | ferrandcognac |
Cognac Ferrand is a French alcohol company known for its Cognac and other spirits founded in 1989.[1] Its brands are distributed in 68 countries.[2] In March 2017, Cognac Ferrand acquired West Indies Rum Distillery in Barbados.[3] The Landy brand, created by the company, has collaborated with Snoop Dogg in 2008 for the US market.[4]
History[edit]
Cognac Ferrand was established in 1989 as a startup when Jean Dominique Andreu and Alexandre Gabriel who were classmates at the Institut Supérieur de Gestion in Paris were introduced to Pierre Ferrand, the owner of a Vineyard and distillery located in La Nérolle, Segonzac.[5]
Despite having little prior knowledge of Cognac, and Wine & Spirit production Andreu and Gabriel were intrigued by the potential of the product.[6] In 1989 with almost no capital (51,000 French Francs (equivalent to 7,775 EUR) the 3 partners decided to create Cognac Ferrand, registered the trademark Pierre Ferrand.[5] As Ferrand could not supply enough cognac from the production of his own vineyards and distillery Gabriel and Andreu started at that time to buy bulk aged Grande Champagne cognac, from the Distillery Logis d’Angeac.[5] In the mid-90s, Andreu and Gabriel recognized a growing demand for craft spirits, prompting them to diversify their production beyond cognac.[7] Anticipating the rise of super-premium gins and high-end dark rums, they took the initiative to create innovative brands that would come to define these categories.[8] In 1998, they introduced Citadelle, one of the first luxury gins. In 1996, the GABRIEL & ANDREU range of single growth cognacs was launched, Following suit in 1999, they introduced PLANTATION, a brand known for its rum offerings.[9] Pierre Ferrand continued to sell bottles under the Pierre Ferrand name despite the fact that it was owned by the firm Cognac Ferrand, in which he also had a stake.[10] He lost the infringement lawsuit against his two partners in April 2000 and was forced to relinquish his shares to his two partners, who remain the sole owners.[11]
Jean-Dominique Andreu left the firm and sold his interests in February 2008.[12][13]
The corporation also controls the Plantation Rum brand, which has global distribution in 68 countries, and manufactures Cognac and Gin in Cognac, France.[14]
Following the Murder of George Floyd in 2020, Gabriel announced that he will change the brand name ‘Plantation’ due to its meaning and the links to slavery.[15]
In 2022, The Guardian 's Rachelle Ferron reminded Cognac Ferrand commitment to change the brand name "Plantation, as of 2023, no action has been taken, leading to growing skepticism regarding the sincerity of the announcement made in 2020, which had garnered significant attention.[3]
Through the acquisition of the West Indies Rum Distillery, Cognac Ferrand also entered the realm of Jamaican rum, with ownership stakes in the National Jamaican Rum Company, Monymusk Distillery, and Long Pond Distillery.[14]
References[edit]
- ^ Grimes, William (2 December 1998). "Fully Armed, a French Gin Storms the Gates". The New York Times.
- ^ "Rum distillery purchase consolidates foreign ownership". The Caribbean Council. 28 March 2017.
- ^ a b Ferron, Rachelle (25 October 2022). "Plantations kept slaves. They were a place of horror. Why exploit them as a sales brand?". The Guardian.
- ^ Burch, Alexander; Kaplan, jacob (27 April 2021). "District court confirms arbitration award of $2 million in fees and costs to prevailing party and refuses sanctions against petitioner who sought to vacate the award". Global Arbitration News.
- ^ a b c Fisher, Daniel. "Gate Crashers". Forbes.
- ^ Bruce-Gardyne, Tom (2 September 2019). "Maison Ferrand: a brand history". The Spirits Business.
- ^ "Jean-Dominique Andreu - Jean-Dominique Andreu: A life in spirits". TheDrinksReport.com.
- ^ Davet, Stephane (31 May 2022). "Citadelle, au paradis des alambics". Le Monde (in French).
- ^ Micallef, Joseph V. "Alexandre Gabriel On Ferrand And The Future Of Cognac". Forbes.
- ^ Avec, Par (1 November 2000). "Un petit producteur de cognac condamné pour contrefaçon". leparisien.fr (in French).
- ^ "Spiritueux Magazine : L'affaire Pierre Ferrand - "Le producteur de cognac condamné pour contrefaçon"". .spiritueux magazine.
- ^ "Jean-Dominique Andreu: A life in spirits". TheDrinksReport.com.
- ^ Hopkins, Amy (13 February 2018). "Camus hires Cognac Ferrand founder as marketing head". The Spirits Business.
- ^ a b Hopkins, Amy (13 March 2017). "Plantation Rum owner buys Barbados distillery". The Spirits Business.
- ^ Carruthers, Nicola (30 June 2020). "Plantation Rum to change name". The Spirits Business.