Brugal

Infobox_Company
company_name = Brugal & Co.
company_
company_type = Private
foundation = 1888
location = Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
key_people = George Arzeno Brugal, Chairman; Franklin Báez Brugal, CEO
industry = Distilled beverages
products = Rum Liqueur
revenue =
operating_income =
net_income =
group = The Edrington Group
homepage = http://www.brugal.com.do

Brugal is the name and brand of a variety of rums from the Dominican Republic produced by Brugal & Co., C. por A. Brugal and the other Dominican rums, Barceló and Bermúdez, are collectively known as the three B's. Brugal has three distillings, one in Puerto Plata and two in San Pedro de Macorís.

Company History

During the second half of the 19th century, Andrés Brugal Montaner, a Spanish national who had migrated to Santiago de Cuba, decided to move to the Dominican Republic and take up permanent residence in Puerto Plata. While in Cuba, Don Andrés acquired expertise in the making of rum, and based on that experience he founded Brugal & Co. in Puerto Plata. It would mark the beginning of a long family tradition. Don Andrés, unknowingly, would become the forebearer of entrepreneurial leadership in Dominican society. In 1920 the company's first warehouses were built for the ageing of rum in oak barrels.

By 1976, with Extraviejo, the company developed the Premium rum segment in Dominican Republic. In 1998 Brugal & Co. launched Brugal Limón, Brugal Pasión and Unico. [Histoire du Rhum by Alain Huetz de Lemps, 1997] . In 2005, the company launched 5-liter steel dispensing barrels for its medium and low-tier brands.

Today, the chairman, George Arzeno Brugal, and most of the board members are direct descendants of the founder of the company.

Expansion and Operations

The enterprise spread to other areas, namely livestock, agriculture, ecology, veterinarian and pharmaceutical products, distribution of renowned international liquors and alcoholic beverages, hardware store, production of other alcoholic beverages and patronage of institutions engaged in social work. Brugal has factories in Puerto Plata where the rums are produced. The distribution and marketing offices are located in the capital city of Santo Domingo, and there is also a regional office in Santiago de los Caballeros, the Dominican Republic's second capital. The company currently supplies the market with several varieties of rum, each with a distinctive personality.

Brugal has international presence in many of the Caribbean islands, the United States, Canada, and Europe, where Spain and Italy are the largest consumers.

Edrington Group acquisition

On February 6, 2008, Brugal & Co. made public that The Edrington Group, a large Scottish distilling company, won control of the company by acquiring a majority shareholding. In a press release, the Brugal family assured that production will continue within the Dominican Republic and that they will remain as shareholders and have an active role in managing the company and brand. [ [http://www.diariolibre.com/app/article.aspx?id=136238 La venta de Brugal arreciará la competencia de rones en Europa] ] [ [http://www.edringtongroup.com/media/news/pressRelease.asp?id=EDR-62008-35-10836 The Edrington Group acquires majority stake in The Brugal Company] ]

Figures published indicate that the price paid by Edrington for a holding of just over 60% [ [http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=149235&command=displayContent&sourceNode=149218&contentPK=19800679&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch] ] (other sources cite up to 83% [ [http://www.diariolibre.com/app/article.aspx?id=136595 Empresa Brugal vendió el 83% de sus acciones por 400 millones de dólares] ] ) was in excess of £200million.

Brands and Varieties

* Carta Dorada (golden low-tier)
* Ron Blanco (white low-tier)
* Ron Blanco 151 (white high-proof for mixing cocktails)
* Añejo (golden mid-tier)
* Extra Viejo (golden premium)
* Siglo de Oro (golden high-end porcellain-bottled premium blend)
* Licor Único (rum liqueur)

References