Diageo plc is the largest multinational beer, wine and spirits company in the world.The Company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and has American Depositary Receipts listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The word Diageo was formed from the Latin dia (day) and the Greek geo (World), symbolizing the use of the company's brands every day, everywhere.
History
The Company was formed in 1997 from the merger of Guinness plc and Grand Metropolitan plc. The creation was driven by the two executives Anthony Greener and Philip Yea at Guinness plus George Bull and John McGrath of Grand Metropolitan. The product portfolios of Guinness and Grand Met were largely complementary, with little overlap.In 2002, Diageo sold the Burger King fast food restaurant chain to a consortium led by the US firm Texas Pacific for $1.5 billion. Diageo also owned Pillsbury until 2000 when it was sold to General Mills.
Operations
Diageo is the holding company for some of the leading international alcoholic beverage brands including, to give a few of the best known brands:- Beer: Guinness, Smithwick's, Red Stripe, Harp Lager, Kilkenny
- Scotch whisky: Johnnie Walker, J&B, Bell's, Black & White, Vat 69, Oban, Talisker, Lagavulin, Glenkinchie, Dalwhinnie, Cragganmore
- Baijiu: Shui Jing Fang
- Vodka: Smirnoff (Smirnov in Russia), Cîroc, Silent Sam, Popov
- Gin: Gordon's, Tanqueray, Gilbey's, Booth's
- Rum: Captain Morgan, Bundaberg, Pampero, Myers's
- Bourbon: Bulleit
- Canadian whisky: Crown Royal, Seagram's
- Irish whiskey: Bushmills
- Tennessee whiskey: George Dickel
- Tequila: Don Julio
- Schnapps: Black Haus, Goldschlager, Rumple Minze
- Mixed drinks: Archers, Pimm's
- Liqueur: Baileys, Sheridans, Unicum, Yukon Jack, Godiva's, Zwack
- Wines: Sterling Vineyards, Piat d'Or, Justerini & Brooks, Barton & Guestier, Beaulieu Vineyard, Blossom Hill, Acacia, Chalone, Provenance, and Rosenblum.
Diageo operates the Scotch whisky distilleries of Blair Athol (situated at Pitlochry), Caol Ila, Cardhu, Knockando, Glen Elgin, Clynelish, Cragganmore, Dalwhinnie, Glenkinchie, Glen Ord, Lagavulin, Oban, Royal Lochnagar, Talisker, Mannochmore, Mortlach and Glenlossie, which are sold not only under their own name but used to make the various blended scotch whiskies sold by the company.
Diageo also distributes Jose Cuervo tequila products in North America. However, Cuervo operates as a separate company in Mexico and is not owned by Diageo.
Cardhu controversy
In December 2003, Diageo provoked controversy over its decision to change its Cardhu brand Scotch whisky from a single malt to a vatted malt (also known as a pure malt) whilst retaining the original name and bottle style. Diageo took this action because it did not have sufficient reserves to meet demand in the Spanish market, where Cardhu had been successful. After a meeting of producers, Diageo agreed to make changes.
As of 2006, the brand of Cardhu has quietly changed back to being a single malt.
References
External links
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Last updated on Saturday July 26, 2008 at 15:20:16 PDT (GMT -0700)
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