Edrington raises a glass to US growth

Scotch whisky producer Edrington, owner of The Macallan and The Famous Grouse brands, is preparing to launch its own US business next month as Americans’ thirst for a wee dram shows no signs of abating.

The distiller, whose roots can be traced back to the middle of the 19th century, will open a network of offices across the US as it takes control of all of its own marketing and distribution in the world’s biggest Scotch whisky export market by value.

The company’s brands have been distributed in the US by France’s Rémy Cointreau since 1985 but the Scotch whisky producer has decided to manage its own sales across the Atlantic, as it seeks to take further advantage of booming growth.

Edrington’s US business, which will have 120 staff, will be head- quartered in New York, but the company will have offices in a number of major cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas and Miami.

America is already the most valuable export market for Scotch whisky but figures published last week showed further growth of 8pc last year to a record £818.7m.

Edrington, which also owns Highland Park and Cutty Sark, already sells 90pc of its products outside the UK but has been further expanding its reach, last year opening distribution companies in Singapore and Dubai.

The private company, whose brands also include Snow Leopard vodka and Brugal rum, has poached Alex Short, the finance director of Scottish soft drinks company AG Barr, maker of Irn-Bru.

Mr Short is expected to join Edrington as finance director by the end of the summer.

Exports of Scotch whisky are worth £135 a second to the UK’s balance of trade.

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