Morrison Bowmore Rise In Malt Whisky Sales

[John]

A Scottish distiller has announced a 7% rise in its 2009 pre-tax profits to £3.8m.

Morrison Bowmore said although global sales for single malt whisky declined last year, it increased turnover by 6% to nearly £40m.

Founded in 1951 by Stanley Morrison and J. Howat, Morrison Bowmore's ultimate parent is now Japanese drinks giant Suntory.

It said sales of its Islay Single Malt increased by 12% with the Japanese malts, Yamazaki and Hakushu, selling well in the UK and Europe.

The two single malts are distilled in Japan and Morrison Bowmore handles the sales in Europe.

The agreement led to new jobs and investment at the group's Glasgow site in Springburn.

Morrison Bowmore operates the Bowmore Distillery in Islay, Auchentoshan Distillery Clydebank near Glasgow and Glen Garioch Distillery at Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire.

Chief executive, Mike Keiller, said: "The company continues to focus on building its single malt whisky brands and investment in recent years, in both Bowmore and Auchentoshan, is starting to pay off with significant growth in the brands performance in 2009 despite the difficult economic conditions."

Its Glen Garioch brand was relaunched last year, with a larger product range and new packaging. Other developments last year included the firm investing £1.5million in production and bottling facilities, and sealing a five-year deal with the Drambuie Liqueur Company.

The distillers also blend and bottle Drambuie after winning a contract last year. Under the Drambuie contract, Morrison Bowmore took on the delivery of services including whisky procurement, blending, bottling, warehousing and logistics.

John

[JAB]

i wonder what place bowmore would be in a sales table of all 8 islay distillerys?

[Carson]

[JAB]

yes but where 2 look?