Pernod Ricard, the French wine and spirits group, is optimistic about China’s growing economy and has plans to expand its investments while focusing on premium and diversified products in this highly lucrative market, according to a senior executive. Jerome Cottin-Bizonne, managing director of Pernod Ricard China, emphasized the importance of adopting a consumer-centric approach and embracing digital transformation to capture the opportunity presented by Chinese consumers’ keen interest in exploring new categories of imported spirits.
Speaking at the ongoing third China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou, Hainan province, Cottin-Bizonne said that Pernod Ricard, the world’s second-largest producer of wine and spirits, is exhibiting a record number of offerings in the grand event, with more than 100 spirits and wines covering key categories, including cognac, Scotch whisky, vodka, gin, wine, and champagne.
Leveraging the expo as an important exchange platform, Pernod Ricard is showcasing its newly-launched ultra-premium gin brand KI NO BI, which made its debut in the Chinese mainland recently. Pernod Ricard has already opened four boutique stores in duty-free channels of the free trade port and has plans to expand its sales channels across China.
In addition to expanding its sales channels, Pernod Ricard is committed to ecological conservation and sustainable development in Hainan. The group announced that Martell, one of its cognac brands, would continue to work with other parties to implement its mangrove conservation project at a second site in Tielu Bay Mangrove Reserve in Sanya, following the successful works of the Hailing Island National Mangrove Wetland Park in Yangjiang, Guangdong province.
As the imported spirits market in China is expected to evolve to embrace new consumption scenarios and consumers, offering more diverse opportunities, young consumers prefer fresh and diverse alcoholic drinks, which will bring about changes to the market, according to Guo Xin, a marketing professor at Beijing Technology and Business University.
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