London-based spirits company Blavod Extreme Spirits, most famous for its Blavod Black Vodka brand, is entering into a joint venture with Suntory International, the US subsidiary of Suntory, Asia's biggest beverage producer. The joint venture, to be called Diamante Spirits, will be a 50/50 partnership.
According to a spokesperson, the new business will focus on developing premium spirits brands'. Suntory will provide the funding for the joint venture, to cover development, operating and marketing costs', while Blavod will be responsible for developing new products, as well as marketing and distribution.
Diamante will concentrate on the areas of the global spirits markets where Blavod has its main expertise - namely high-growth market segments such as premium vodka, Tequila, rum and gin. We expect to introduce our first new product in late 2005,' added the spokesperson. Blavod's existing products, Blavod and the Players Extreme range, are not involved in the agreement, although the new products created will be added to the Blavod sales teams' portfolios in the US and the UK.