La Martiniquaise-Bardinet Acquires Full Ownership of Sir James 101

La Martiniquaise-Bardinet, a French beverage company, has acquired full ownership of the Dutch non-alcoholic cocktail brand Sir James 101. This acquisition comes three years after the company initially took a minority stake in the brand. The specific financial terms of the agreement have not been made public.

Sir James 101, launched in 2019 by Vincent Yilmaz and Rambert de Lange, was previously owned by Brand Captains and is recognized as a market leader by volume in Belgium and ranks third in the Netherlands. The products are manufactured at Sodiko, a Belgian drinks producer owned by La Martiniquaise-Bardinet.

Cyril Cahart, managing director of La Martiniquaise-Bardinet France and CEO of La Martiniquaise Benelux, emphasized the strategic importance of the alcohol-free category, noting its strong growth both in the Benelux region and internationally. The company plans to expand Sir James 101's presence globally, utilizing all major distribution channels, including on-trade, off-trade, and travel retail.

Currently, Sir James 101 is available in markets such as the US, UK, France, Switzerland, and Italy. The group has plans to further extend the brand into countries like Austria, Ukraine, Germany, and Poland. This acquisition adds to the company's existing non-alcoholic portfolio, which includes brands like D’Artigny Sparkling and Warner’s non-alcoholic gin range.

Lieven Stevens, managing director at La Martiniquaise Benelux, mentioned that Brand Captains would continue to support export activities closely with La Martiniquaise-Bardinet’s sister companies or export departments. This acquisition follows several strategic investments by the company, including a 40% stake in the Spanish company Street Liquors and a majority stake in UK gin producer Warner’s Distillery.