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Beverage Media
October 2012
INDUSTRY
Opici Launching Distributor
in Washington, DC
Our nation’s capital will be getting a
much-needed change this fall—but it’s
not political. The Opici Wine Group is
bringing their high-quality wines and
customer service to Washington, DC.
Launching on October 1
st
and repre-
senting Opici’s first entry into the Mid-
Atlantic region, the new company will
cater solely to the DC market, offering
a portfolio of fine wines and spirits from
around the world.
“
We’re always focused on new op-
portunities to grow our business, and
we’re very excited to expand into this
vibrant market,” said Dina Opici, presi-
dent of Opici Wine Group. “Our deci-
sion to invest in the DC marketplace
further demonstrates our long-term
commitment to the wine industry and
our distribution business.”
Eoin Connors will manage the
Washington, DC territory as general
sales manager. An industry veteran,
Eoin comes to Opici from Southern
Wine & Spirits where he served as Fine
Wine Specialist/Key Account Manager
MD/DC. Eoin brings additional dis-
tribution expertise through his role as
regional manager at Slocum & Sons in
Connecticut, as well as 12 years of expe-
rience in the restaurant industry.
“
Eoin’s industry expertise, manage-
ment experience, and professionalism
make him the perfect manager to lead
our expansion into DC,” said Ms. Opici.
“
We’re thrilled that Eoin is joining the
Opici team and look forward to work-
ing with him to develop and grow this
new business.”
The Opici Wine Company of Wash-
ington, DC will join Opici’s growing
distribution business, which includes
operations in New Jersey, New York,
Connecticut and Florida. The Opici
family has been distributing wine for
more than 75 years, establishing its first
distributor in 1934. The company was
founded by the Opici family in 1913.
Today, 96-year-old wine icon Hubert
Opici is joined by his daughter Linda
and grandchildren Dina and Don, who
work together to run the distribution
business and Opici Wines, an importer
and producer of wines and spirits.
CAMPARI ACQUIRES
APPLETON ESTATE RUM
Gruppo Campari recently announced
that it has acquired an 81.4% ownership
in Lascelles deMercado & Co. Limited
(
LdM), producer of Appleton Estate
and other Jamaican rums. This transac-
tion marks the third largest acquisition
in Campari’s history (following those of
Wild Turkey and Skyy Spirits) and posi-
tions the Group as a leading producer of
premium rum globally.
The deal includes: Appleton Estate
(
super-premium aged rum designed for
sipping), Appleton Special and White
(
specially designed for mixing), Wray
&
Nephew White Overproof (the
world’s top-selling overproof rum),
Coruba and a strong portfolio of lo-
cal brands. In Fiscal Year ended Sep-
tember 30, 2011, the rum and spirits
portfolio achieved total sales volume
of 3.5 million 9L cases.
CEO Bob Kunze-Concewitz, com-
mented: “The addition of the Apple-
ton, Wray & Nephew and Coruba
rum brands as well as a portfolio of lo-
cal Jamaican brands will help us build
our critical mass further in key North
American markets, provide a leading
market position in Jamaica, a major
destination in the Caribbean, while
Eoin Connors
news
front
In Memoriam
Patrick Ricard
(1945-2012)
T
he Ricard fam-
ily, the board
of directors and
general man-
agement announced
the sad news of Patrick
Ricard’s sudden death
in August. In 1967
Patrick Ricard joined
the Ricard company,
founded by his father
Paul Ricard in 1932. He
held successive positions
in the company’s main
departments, becoming
Managing Director in
1972.
In 1975, he was
appointed Managing
Director of Pernod Ricard and then,
in 1978, chairman and chief execu-
tive officer. In November 2008, he
resigned his executive duties at the
head of the Group. He was Chair-
man of the board of
directors. Patrick Ricard
had received numerous
distinctions including
that of the Commander
of the Legion of Hon-
our and Knight of the
National Order of the
Merit. He is survived by
his wife and three chil-
dren. Reuters reported
that Ricard’s nephew,
Alexandre Ricard, is
the leading candidate to
become the company’s
chief executive follow-
ing the planned retire-
ment of current CEO
Pierre Pringuet in 2015. Alexandre
Ricard, 40, currently is the manag-
ing director of the Pernod Ricard
distribution network, overseeing
Pernod’s route to market worldwide.
