Allied Domecq PLC was an international company, headquartered in Bristol, UK that operated spirits, wine, and quick service restaurant businesses.
History
Allied Domecq was the result of a 1994 merger between Allied Lyons and Pedro Domecq.[1]. Allied Lyons was the result of a 1978 merger between Allied Breweries and the food and catering group J. Lyons and Co.[1][2]
In the mid 1980s, Allied Lyons PLC entered into a purchase agreement with Hiram Walker-Gooderham & Worts Ltd., the Canadian based distillers of Canadian Club and other brands. The agreement was contested by Olympia and York who had bought up the vast majority of Hiram Walker stock. Their highly-publicized legal battle for control ended in 1987 with Olympia and York becoming Allied Lyons' largest shareholder.citation needed
In early 2005, a takeover bid for the company was launched by French-based rival Pernod Ricard SA. Pernod Ricard successfully completed acquisition on 26 July 2005 and sold off the overlapping spirits brands to U.S.-based competitor Fortune Brands and British giant Diageo.[3] On 12 December 2005, Pernod Ricard announced that it had agreed to sell the restaurant businesses (Dunkin' Brands) to a consortium of three US private equity firms (Thomas H. Lee Partners, the Carlyle Group and Bain Capital LLP) for $2.43 billion. The closing of the sale occurred on March 1, 2006.
Portfolio at time of takeover
Allied Domecq's spirits division operated a combination of nine core global brands, plus a selection of local market leaders. Their product portfolio included:
Brands acquired by Fortune Brands:
- Sauza tequila
- Courvoisier cognac
- Canadian Club whisky
- Clos du Bois and other Sonoma and Napa wine brands
- Laphroaig malt whisky
- Maker's Mark bourbon
- Teacher’s Scotch whisky
- Cockburn port
- Harveys sherries
- Larios gin
- DYC whisky
- Fundador Spanish brandy
- Centenario Spanish brandy
- Kuemmerling German bitters
References
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