GBH buys UK distributor Mangrove

Chairman’s Reserve rum owner GBH has agreed to acquire UK-based spirits distributor Mangrove Global for an undisclosed sum.

London-based Mangrove will join Spiribam, the spirits subsidiary of family-owned French firm Groupe Bernard Hayot (GBH).

Stéphane Hayot, managing director of GBH, said: “This new acquisition confirms our desire to intensify our investments and our development in the field of spirits by expanding our portfolio of premium brands, but also by strengthening our distribution structures in strategic markets.”

Nick Gillett, co-founder and current managing director of Mangrove, will continue to head up the company and will lead the distribution of all GBH rum brands for the UK.

GBH’s portfolio of spirits includes the Rhum Clément, Rhum JM, Bounty, Chairman’s Reserve, and Admiral Rodney rum brands. The brands are produced by Saint Lucia Distillers, which GBH acquired in March 2016.

John Coe, majority shareholder and co-founder of Mangrove in 2006, will leave the company to focus on his other business interests.

“Joining GBH and having access to Spiribam’s brands, resources and talents is an extraordinary opportunity,” said Gillett.

“Under the impetus of [the] new shareholder, Mangrove will be able to accelerate its development in the UK by relying on a team of passionate employees and a portfolio of leading partner brands (gin, Tequila, whiskeys, vodka, liqueurs, etc).

“GBH and Mangrove share similar entrepreneurial values. The possibilities offered to our brands, but especially to my team, are a great opportunity.

“It is a real privilege to take part in this new chapter in the history of the company that I created from scratch with John Coe. I am personally convinced that Mangrove’s best years lie ahead.”

UK potential

Hayot called the UK a priority market for its portfolio of predominately premium and super-premium brands.

“The opening of Spiribam, UK in 2021 validated the potential of this market and convinced us to accelerate our establishment by acquiring Mangrove Global Ltd, whose solid market expertise and very good success in terms of brand building are undisputed,” he noted.

“This operation is perfectly in line with our strategy of developing a powerful international distribution network for our spirits brands and those of our partners, by offering them an amplified quality of service and better visibility.

“The spirits sector is resolutely a strong area of development for GBH, alongside our retail and automotive activities.”

In July 2021, GBH purchased French liqueur maker Joseph Cartron for an undisclosed sum.