by Elsebeth Lohfert
The V&S Group, the distributors of Absolut vodka, and Foster´s EMEA announced that they are currently finalizing a distribution agreement in Scandanavia for all of Foster´s leading wine brands including Penfolds, Rosemount, Lindemans, Wolf Blass, Beringer, Matua Valley, Wynns Coonawarra Estate, Castello di Gabbiano, La Belle Terasse and Saltram. By managing the entire portfolio with one Nordic partner, we can offer added value to our customers in terms of service and support and respond better to the needs of the consumer in this important region, stated Richard Trimby, Foster´s Commercial Director for Europe. Having carefully considered all the options, we believe that V&S Group offers the best solution for our needs.
The final date for the takeover of the portfolio has not yet been decided.
Foster´s EMEA is the sales- and marketing division of Foster´s Wine Estates (FEW) for Europe established in 2005 when Foster´s bought Southcorp Wines. Foster´s EMEA has an annual sale in Europe, including Great Britain, of 7,5 million cases.
Distribution for V&S in the Northern Europe is primarily handled through the company´s own distribution centres in Sweden, Denmark and Finland. They are represented by the half-owned company Amundsen in Norway, by the subsidiary V&S Eesti in Estonia, and by the company V&S Luksusowa Zielona Góra, in Poland. Exactly which Nordic countries are concerned has yet to be divulged.
