Vranken-Pommery Monopole, Second Largest Champagne Producer, Moves Pommery Distribution to U.S. Subsidiary

French champagne producer Vranken-Pommery Monopole has announced that it will act as the exclusive importer for Champagne Pommery in the U.S. via its subsidiary, Vranken Pommery America.

The move, which was implemented on May 1 of this year, will boost Vranken's expansion in the market. "Gathering all of our brands within our subsidiary's portfolio was an organic move for us," explained Paul Francois Vranken, president of Vranken-Pommery Monopole, "one that represents a major strategic step in the development of our brand positioning in the U.S."

Since 1997, Vranken America has successfully imported and marketed the entire portfolio with the exception of Pommery. Vranken Pommery Monopole is the second largest producer in Champagne and the first winegrower in Europe with vineyards in Champagne, the South of France and Portugal. The company portfolio includes champagne houses Pommery (since 2002), Diamant, Demoiselle, Charles Lafitte, Heidsieck & co Monopole as well as Rozes port wines and wines from Listel Group in the South of France.

Until recently, Champagne Pommery was imported by W. J. Deutsch & Sons Ltd who began working with Pommery more than a decade ago. "We would like to take this opportunity to thank W. J. Deutsch for their dedication to this brand. They have been instrumental in growing Pommery in the U.S. and have been a pleasure to work with over the past five years," stated Mr. Vranken.

With the inclusion of Champagne Pommery, Vranken America took on a new name as well, Vranken Pommery America. Current distribution channels for Champagne Pommery will be kept in place across the U.S. "We look forward to further developing and strengthening our relationships with our distributor network," commented Thomas Lambert-Laurent, Vice President of Vranken Pommery America. "The addition of Champagne Pommery to our group is one that we have been looking forward to for some time. We are happy to have the brand back in the family and look forward to toasting our future successes with all our partners in the U.S."