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Stock Polska – Prestige products with history

Polmos Lublin (known today as Stock Polska) was founded by the industrialist Emil Plage in Lublin in 1906 and was able to survive both world wars and the communist state leadership. The company was nationalised in 1948 and re-privatised in 2001. It traded on the Warsaw Stock Exchange until 2005 and was sold in 2006. The new owners, Oaktree Capital Management, purchased the spirits division from Eckes Stock in 2007 and thereby laid the foundations for the current Stock Spirits Group. The company has its headquarters in Luxembourg, its service centre in Great Britain and its production sites in the Czech Republic, Italy and Poland.

Stock dates back to the year 1884 when Lionello Stock founded a beverages business in Trieste. He purchased a distillery in 1920 in what is currently part of the Czech Republic with the aim of tapping into new markets. This was followed by distilleries, bottling plants and warehouses in Italy, Austria, Poland, Hungary and Yugoslavia. In the 1920s, Stock was one of the biggest companies of its kind in Europe.

After an absence of 70 years, Stock returned to Poland and began to manufacture at the historic site of Lublin, 150 kilometres south-east of Warsaw. Intensive investment led to the creation of the most modern distillery in Poland and a leadership position on the vodka market. Poland’s most popular flavoured vodka is produced here: Zoladkowa Gorzka.

Lots of Stock products are produced by traditional recipes. These classical brands appeal to connoisseurs all over the world. In return, work is constantly being done on innovations that correspond to modern tastes and new drinking cultures. Quality standards are constantly upheld in both areas, of course.

The quality of the products was recognised at the World Spirits Award with a gold medal for the Orkisz Spelt Vodka.

Aldi Ireland: Gin and whiskey in retail

Aldi Ireland has several top products in its spirit range: Boyle’s Gin from the Blackwater Distillery and Ardfallen Whiskey from the West Cork Distillery, in addition, Mo Chara Passionfruit & Mango Gin from the Old Carrick Mill.

The Blackwater Distillery has been an Aldi partner since 2016 and developed the private label Boyle’s Gin exclusively for the Irish and British retail market. The product volume of the Blackwater Distillery for Aldi has risen strongly in recent years, whereby 140,800 bottles of the gin series were sold in 2018. The successful gin brand is manufactured in Blackwater Valley, West Waterford, with selected imported ingredients as well as regional apples, blackcurrants and elderflower. CEO Peter Mulryan – former TV producer and author of the book ‘The Whiskeys of Ireland’ – explains, “The partnership with Aldi has helped us to increase turnover enormously, and also to have the security to invest and expand. This includes on-site bottling facilities and a visitor centre.” Ardfallen Whiskey from the West Cork Distillery got its name from the region in County Cork where the malted barley comes from, and is only manufactured in small batches. The business was founded in 2003 by childhood friends who started out with only two small stills they had bought in Switzerland. Now the largest distillery in the country, it currently employs over 80 staff and exports to around 70 countries.

At the World Spirits Award, there was Gold for Ardfallen 10 Year Old Whiskey and Boyle’s Gin, and Silver for Boyle’s Sloe & Damson Gin and Ardfallen Whiskey.

Al Ahram Beverages Company: Premium vodka from Egypt

The Al Ahram Beverages Company, or ABC for short, is part of the international Heineken group, and produces beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks at five locations in Egypt. A wide selection of wines and spirits comes from Gianaclis, the largest winery and most modern distillery in the region. In addition to whisky, rum and gin, the focus is on vodka, which is produced according to European standards.

The changing history of the company goes back to 1897. Since 1946, there has been a connection with Heineken. In 1963, the company was nationalised and, during the era of privatization, it was bought by an Egyptian entrepreneur in 1997. In 2002, it was taken over by Heineken. These days, ABC is managed by a multi-national team of experts and is an important member of the international Heineken group. In production, great importance is attached to the use of locally produced materials such as glass, crates and boxes, as well as regional raw materials such as sugar and rice.

At the World Spirits Award, there was double gold for Blue 40 (Spirit of the Year 2021), and silver for Devlin.

E. & J. Gallo – Leaders in many areas

E. & J. Gallo in Californian Modesto is the largest wine estate in the world. 14 family members over four generations are actively at work in the privately-run, constantly growing business, which employs 6,000 people worldwide. Ernest and Julio Gallo founded the company in 1933 and from the beginning have placed great emphasis on commitment to the environment. Sustainable, environmentally-friendly, economically viable and socially fair practices still have priority today – and they are proud to be leaders in the field of sustainable wine-growing. Their innovative approach for landscape conservation is known under the term ‘50/50 Give Back’: For every acre of vineyard an acre of land is provided as a habitat for wild animals.

E. & J. Gallo own 15 wine-growing estates in strategic locations in the wine regions of California and Washington, with a total of over 20,000 hectares of vineyards. The wide range of products includes a total of 90 brands, from sparkling wine to spirits. They are exported to over 90 countries around the world. America’s highly acclaimed brandies are elegant and authentic, as well as the three clearly defined styles VS, VSOP and XO – manufactured for 40 years using traditional methods and matured at least two years in oak barrels – there are also varieties with apple and peach liqueur.

At the World Spirits Award, there was gold for Apple, and silver for Peach, XO, VSOP and VS. From the New Amsterdam Spirits product line Vodka, Gin and Lemon Vodka were awarded gold and Raspberry Vodka won silver, and from the Familia Camarena Tequila product line Tequila Blanco was awarded silver and Tequila Reposada won gold.