Pernod Ricard () is a French company best known for its
anise
Anise (; '), also called aniseed or rarely anix is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae native to Eurasia.
The flavor and aroma of its seeds have similarities with some other spices and herbs, such as star anise, fennel, licorice, and ta ...
-flavoured
pastis
Pastis (; oc, Pastís, ; or ) is an anise-flavoured spirit and apéritif traditionally from France, typically containing less than 100 g/L sugar and 40–45% ABV ( alcohol by volume).
Origins
Pastis was first commercialized by Paul Ricard ...
apéritifs Pernod Anise and Ricard Pastis (often referred to simply as ''Pernod'' or ''
Ricard Ricard is a surname, as well as a Catalan name. Notable people with the surname include:
* Étienne Pierre Sylvestre Ricard (1771–1843), French general under Napoleon
* Hámilton Ricard (born 1974), Colombian footballer
*Jean-François Ricard (bo ...
''). The world’s second-largest wine and spirits seller,
it also produces several other types of pastis.
History
After the banning of
absinthe
Absinthe (, ) is an anise-flavoured spirit derived from several plants, including the flowers and leaves of ''Artemisia absinthium'' ("grand wormwood"), together with green anise, sweet fennel, and other medicinal and culinary herbs. Historical ...
, Pernod Ricard was created from the
Pernod Fils company, which had produced absinthe. Pernod Ricard owned the distilled beverage division of the former corporation
Seagram
The Seagram Company Ltd. (which traded as Seagram's) was a Canadian multinational conglomerate formerly headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. Originally a distiller of Canadian whisky based in Waterloo, Ontario, it was once (in the 1990s) the lar ...
(including brands like
Chivas Regal
Chivas Regal () is a blended Scotch whisky manufactured by Chivas Brothers, which is part of Pernod Ricard. It was founded in 1786, with its home being in the Strathisla distillery at Keith, Moray in Speyside, Scotland, and is the oldest contin ...
) until 2006, along with many other holdings. In 2005, the company acquired a British-based competitor,
Allied Domecq PLC
Allied Domecq PLC was an international company, headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom, that operated spirits, wine, and quick service restaurant businesses. It was once a FTSE 100 Index constituent but has been acquired by Pernod Ricard. The ...
.
In 2008, Pernod Ricard announced its acquisition of Swedish-based
V&S Group
V&S Group (''V&S Vin & Sprit AB''), founded in 1917, is an international producer and distributor of alcoholic beverages. The group is currently owned by Pernod Ricard. Headquartered in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, the group employs approxim ...
, which produces
Absolut Vodka
Absolut Vodka is a brand of vodka, produced near Åhus, in southern Sweden. Absolut is a part of the French group Pernod Ricard. Pernod Ricard bought Absolut for €5.63 billion in 2008 from the Swedish state. Absolut is one of the largest brand ...
. In 2013, Pernod Ricard joined leading alcohol producers as part of a
producers' commitments to reducing harmful drinking.
In December 2018,
Elliott Management Corporation purchased a 2.5% stake in Pernod Ricard.In December 2022, Pernot Ricard announced plans to open a US$250 million
carbon-neutral
Carbon neutrality is a state of net-zero carbon dioxide emissions. This can be achieved by balancing emissions of carbon dioxide with its removal (often through carbon offsetting) or by eliminating emissions from society (the transition to the "p ...
whiskey distillery in
Marion County, Kentucky
Marion County is a county in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the total population was 19,581. Its county seat is Lebanon. The county was founded in 1834 and named for Francis Marion, the American Revolutionary War hero know ...
in 2025.
According to the NGO Alliance Anticorrida, Pernod Ricard was the major funder of
bullfighting
Bullfighting is a physical contest that involves a bullfighter attempting to subdue, immobilize, or kill a bull, usually according to a set of rules, guidelines, or cultural expectations.
There are several variations, including some forms wh ...
in France, financing bullfighting clubs and sponsoring
corridas despite the
opposition of a majority of French citizens to
blood sports
A blood sport or bloodsport is a category of sport or entertainment that involves bloodshed. Common examples of the former include combat sports such as cockfighting and dog fighting, and some forms of hunting and fishing. Activities charact ...
. In 2020, Pernod Ricard ended the association with bullfighting clubs.
Pernod
*1797 – , a Swiss
distiller
Distillation, or classical distillation, is the process of separating the components or substances from a liquid mixture by using selective boiling and condensation, usually inside an apparatus known as a still. Dry distillation is the heating ...
, opens his first absinthe distillery in Switzerland.
*1805 – Maison Pernod Fils (simply known as Pernod Fils) is founded in
Pontarlier
Pontarlier ( ; Latin: ''Ariolica'') is a commune and one of the two sub-prefectures of the Doubs department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in eastern France near the Swiss border.
History
Pontarlier occupies the ancient Roman station of ...
,
Franche-Comté
Franche-Comté (, ; ; Frainc-Comtou: ''Fraintche-Comtè''; frp, Franche-Comtât; also german: Freigrafschaft; es, Franco Condado; all ) is a cultural and historical region of eastern France. It is composed of the modern departments of Doubs, ...
, eastern France, by Henri-Louis Pernod and begins production of the
anise
Anise (; '), also called aniseed or rarely anix is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae native to Eurasia.
The flavor and aroma of its seeds have similarities with some other spices and herbs, such as star anise, fennel, licorice, and ta ...
-flavored spirit known as
absinthe
Absinthe (, ) is an anise-flavoured spirit derived from several plants, including the flowers and leaves of ''Artemisia absinthium'' ("grand wormwood"), together with green anise, sweet fennel, and other medicinal and culinary herbs. Historical ...
.
*1850 – Henri-Louis Pernod dies.
*1871 – Distillerie Hémard is founded near Paris.
*1872 – Société Pernod Père & Fils opens in
Avignon
Avignon (, ; ; oc, Avinhon, label=Provençal dialect, Provençal or , ; la, Avenio) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Vaucluse Departments of France, department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region of So ...
.
*1915 – Production and consumption of absinthe is prohibited in France.
*1926 – All 3 distilleries merge to form Les Établissements Pernod.
*1951 – Pastis 51 is launched.
*1965 – Takeover of Distillerie Rousseau, Laurens et Moureaux, producer of
Suze liquor since 1889.
Ricard
*1932 – ''Ricard'', which soon becomes France's favorite
long drink
A long drink or tall drink is an alcoholic mixed drink with a relatively large volume (> 12 cl, frequently 16–40 cl or between 5–9 fluid ounces). In Finland, a ‘long drink’ specifically contains gin plus a mixer, almost always a fruit soda ...
, is founded in
Marseille
Marseille ( , , ; also spelled in English as Marseilles; oc, Marselha ) is the prefecture of the French department of Bouches-du-Rhône and capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Situated in the camargue region of southern Franc ...
by
Paul Ricard
Paul Louis Marius Ricard (; July 9, 1909 – November 7, 1997) was a French industrialist and creator of an eponymous pastis brand which merged in 1975 with its competitor Pernod to create Pernod Ricard. Ricard was also an environmentalist and t ...
.
*1940 – Production of pastis is prohibited by the
Vichy
Vichy (, ; ; oc, Vichèi, link=no, ) is a city in the Allier Departments of France, department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France, in the historic province of Bourbonnais.
It is a Spa town, spa and resort town and in World ...
regime.
*1944 – Production of pastis becomes legal again.
*1968 – Paul Ricard retires; his son Patrick becomes CEO in 1978.
Pernod Ricard
*1975 – Old rivals Pernod and Ricard merge to form Pernod Ricard S.A..
*1988 – Pernod Ricard acquires
Irish Distillers
Irish Distillers is a subsidiary of the French drinks conglomerate Pernod Ricard. It is the largest distiller of Irish whiskey, distilling popular brands such as Jameson and Powers, in addition to premium whiskeys such as Redbreast and Midleton ...
(which includes
Jameson Irish whiskeys).
*1989 – Pernod Ricard acquires
Orlando Wyndham (makers of
Jacob's Creek).
*1993 – Pernod Ricard works with Cuban companies to create
Havana Club
Havana Club is a brand of rum created in Cuba in 1934. Originally produced in Cárdenas, Cuba, by family-owned José Arechabala S.A., the brand was nationalized after the Cuban Revolution of 1959. In 1993, French-owned Pernod Ricard and the gove ...
International.
*1998 – Pernod Ricard acquires the
Yerevan Brandy Company
Yerevan Brandy Company ( (''Yerevani Konyaki Gortsaran'')), commonly known with its famous brand "ArArAt", is the leading enterprise of Armenia for the production of cognac. It was founded in 1887, during the period of the Russian Empire. After t ...
.
*2001 – Pernod Ricard purchases 38% of
Seagram's
The Seagram Company Ltd. (which traded as Seagram's) was a Canadian multinational conglomerate formerly headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. Originally a distiller of Canadian whisky based in Waterloo, Ontario, it was once (in the 1990s) the la ...
Wines and Spirits business.
*2005 – Pernod Ricard purchases
Allied Domecq
Allied Domecq PLC was an international company, headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom, that operated spirits, wine, and quick service restaurant businesses. It was once a FTSE 100 Index constituent but has been acquired by Pernod Ricard. They ...
.
*2008 – Pernod Ricard purchases
V&S Group
V&S Group (''V&S Vin & Sprit AB''), founded in 1917, is an international producer and distributor of alcoholic beverages. The group is currently owned by Pernod Ricard. Headquartered in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, the group employs approxim ...
, including the
Absolut Vodka
Absolut Vodka is a brand of vodka, produced near Åhus, in southern Sweden. Absolut is a part of the French group Pernod Ricard. Pernod Ricard bought Absolut for €5.63 billion in 2008 from the Swedish state. Absolut is one of the largest brand ...
brand, from the Swedish government.
*2022 - Pernod Ricard acquired the
French ready-to-serve cocktail brand, Cockorico.
Subsidiaries
*Chivas Brothers Ltd – whisky and gin branch of Pernod Ricard. Owner of 13 Scotch malt distilleries, 1 grain distillery and 2 gin distilleries.
*''
Pernod Ricard Winemakers'' – owner of
Jacob's Creek,
Brancott Estate
Brancott Estate is the brand adopted since 2010 by Pernod Ricard for New Zealand's largest wine producer, formerly Montana Wines, which now operates as the New Zealand division of Pernod Ricard Winemakers. The name comes from its Brancott winery ...
, Campo Viejo, Ysios, Tarsus, Aura, Azpilicueta, and Siglo
*''
Corby Distilleries
Corby Spirit and Wine Limited is a Canadian alcohol manufacturing and distribution company. It was founded in 1859 in Corbyville, Ontario. As of 2008, the company is 46% owned by Pernod Ricard. The company distills several Canadian specialities, ...
'' – Canadian subsidiary; owner of
Wiser's whisky
Established in 1857, J.P. Wiser's Whisky is one of Canada's oldest continuously produced Canadian whiskeys. Hiram Walker & Sons Limited currently produces it at their Windsor, Ontario, . Since 1935, J.P. Wiser's has been the majority shareholder ...
, Lamb's rum; Hiram Walker & Sons Limited is majority shareholder of Corby and itself unit of Pernod Ricard
*''Pernod Ricard Rouss'' – subsidiary in the Russian Federation
*''
Irish Distillers
Irish Distillers is a subsidiary of the French drinks conglomerate Pernod Ricard. It is the largest distiller of Irish whiskey, distilling popular brands such as Jameson and Powers, in addition to premium whiskeys such as Redbreast and Midleton ...
'' – Irish subsidiary
*''Pernod Ricard Armenia'' – Armenian subsidiary and owner of
Yerevan Brandy Company
Yerevan Brandy Company ( (''Yerevani Konyaki Gortsaran'')), commonly known with its famous brand "ArArAt", is the leading enterprise of Armenia for the production of cognac. It was founded in 1887, during the period of the Russian Empire. After t ...
*''Pernod Ricard Hellas'' – subsidiary in Greece
*''Pernod Ricard India'' – Indian subsidiary
Brands
; Whisky
; Vodkas
; Other
; Wine and Champagne
Pernod Ricard previously owned the non-alcoholic chocolate beverage
Yoo-hoo
Yoo-hoo is an American brand of chocolate-flavored beverage that was developed by Natale Olivieri in Garfield, New Jersey, in 1928 and is currently manufactured by Mott's. As of 2019, the drink is primarily made from water, high-fructose corn syru ...
, which was acquired from a group of private investors in 1989. Pernod Ricard also previously owned the carbonated citrus drink
Orangina
Orangina () is a lightly carbonated beverage made from carbonated water, 12% citrus juice (10% from concentrated orange, 2% from a combination of concentrated lemon, concentrated mandarin, and concentrated grapefruit juices), as well as 2% orang ...
. Both brands were sold in 2001 to
Cadbury Schweppes
Cadbury, formerly Cadbury's and Cadbury Schweppes, is a British multinational confectionery company fully owned by Mondelez International (originally Kraft Foods) since 2010. It is the second largest confectionery brand in the world after Mars ...
.
References
External links
*
{{Euro Stoxx 50 Companies
Distilleries in France
French brands
Holding companies of France
Multinational companies headquartered in France
Absinthe
Anise liqueurs and spirits
French companies established in 1975
Food and drink companies established in 1975
Holding companies established in 1975
CAC 40
Companies in the Euro Stoxx 50
Companies listed on Euronext Paris