Lucas Bols

Infobox_Company
company_name = Lucas Bols B.V.
company_
company_type = Private Equity | foundation = 1575
company_slogan = No Bols, No Glory
location = Amsterdam, the Netherlands
key_people = Huub van Doorne, CEO
num_employees = 28
products = Alcoholic beverages
homepage = [http://www.lucasbols.com/ www.lucasbols.com]
industry = Drinks
revenue = €90 million (2006)

Lucas Bols _nl. "B.V." is a privately held Dutch company in the business of production, distribution, sales and marketing of alcoholic beverages. It is the oldest Dutch company still active and the oldest distillery brand in the world. Its brand portfolio consists of Bols, Galliano, Vaccari, Pisang Ambon, Goldstrike and a large group of Dutch genevers and liqueurs. It produces about 3 million cases a year, with yearly revenues exceeding 95 million euros.cite press release
title = ABN AMRO Capital announces return of Bols to the Netherlands in EUR 210 million deal
publisher = ABN AMRO
date = 2006-03-09
url = http://www.corporates.abnamro.com/corporates/docs/news/09032006_RemyCointreau.jsp
accessdate = 2006-08-31 ] cite press release
title = BOLS COMES HOME AS WORLD’S OLDEST DISTILLER; RETURNS TO THE NETHERLANDS IN 210 MILLION EURO DEAL
publisher = Lucas Bols
date = 2006-03-13
url = http://www.maxxium.com/_fi/documents/LucasBolsPressRelease13.03.2006.doc
accessdate = 2006-08-31 |format=DOC]

Name and family origin

Bols is an old family name from the Antwerp, Belgium area. In Old Dutch, Bols means arrow. As a result of the Eighty Years War between the Netherlands and Spain and the Spanish Inquisition, part of the family fled to Germany. There is a record of a reverse emigration back to Amsterdam.

History

Beginnings

Although there is a lack of hard historical evidence, it is claimed by the company and generally accepted that in 1575 the Bols family arrived in Amsterdam and opened their distillery "t Lootsje" ( _en. the little shed). The distillery was located outside the city walls on the post road to Haarlem, situated next to a stream. By 1612 the city's walls had expanded to encompass the distillery, and the stream was dug out into a canal called the Rozengracht because of rose nurseries in the area. Around the same time, a new stone building was constructed to house the distillery. The first official mention is in 1634 in Amsterdam town papers, where "Pieter Jacobszoon Bols" is documented as operator of "t Lootsje" on the "Rozengracht".

Lucas Bols was born in 1652. His era corresponded with the Dutch golden age, when the Netherlands were a colonial power, and led the world in international commerce. The Dutch East India Company, of which Lucas was a major shareholder, brought exotic herbs, spices and fruits back to Amsterdam, and these were used to create new liqueurs and genevers. Many of the recipes from that period, such as Blue Curaçao and Crème de cacao, remain popular to this day.

During the 18th century, the Bols family became a very prosperous dynasty, but found itself becoming more and more detached from the day to day operation of the distillery. This lack of family leadership, along with the Continental Blockade of Napoleon, severely weakened the company, and when last male heir, Herman Bols, died in 1813, the company was offered for sale.

Van 't Wout era

Napoleon's defeat in 1815 sparked buying interest in the company, and Rotterdam financier Gabriël Theodorus van 't Wout acquired the firm with the condition that the company permanently retain the Bols name. New ownership revitalized the company. A price list from 1820 shows over 300 varieties of liqueurs, bitters, elixirs and gins; it is possible that some of these were never produced, and were merely disinformation aimed at competitors.

Van 't Wout succeeded in bringing the distillery back to profitability, but by 1822 a falling out with partner Coenraad Adriaan Temminck caused him to abandon his efforts with the company. In 1842 Van 't Wout wrote a manuscript entitled "Distillateurs- en Liqueurbereiders Handboek door een oude patroon van 't Lootsje" (English: Distillers and Liqueur makers Handbook by an old patron of "The Little Shed"), which is now in the Bols archives.

Moltzer family era

In 1868 the firm was again sold, this time to the Moltzer family who greatly expanded the company. In 1889, the "rozengracht" canal was filled in order to provide a new major thoroughfare for Amsterdam. The old site was abandoned and a modern steam powered distillery was built in nearby Nieuw Vennep. Other distilleries were built in Scheveningen and in Emmerich, just over the Dutch border in Germany. In 1892, the company was reorganized into an LLC.

By the turn of the century, Bols was aggressively marketing its lines, and nearly all European Royal houses had appointed them Royal Warrants. Former Dutch colonial possessions proved natural markets for the group's products, and a rapid international expansion followed. After World War I, distilleries were started in France (1921), Poland (1922), Switzerland (1929), Canada (1932), South Africa (1933), Belgium (1934), Argentina (1935), Spain (1935) and the United States (1947). [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=BOLS FIRM TO GET NEW JERSEY PLANT; Building in Englewood to Be Erected for Old Liqueur Concern of Holland. |url= |quote= Ervan Lucas Bols, Inc., liqueur concern of Holland, wall " [sic] " have its first American plant in Englewood, N. J., Lawrence W. Pugh, technical director of the company, announced yesterday. |publisher=The New York Times |work= Section: Real Estate |pages= 39 |date=July 23, 1947, Wednesday |accessdate=2007-09-05 ] Bols also grew through takeover, including the firms of Hoppe and Wynand Fockink, its largest competitor since 1679. In 1954, the last of the Moltzer family left the board of directors, and Bols Distilleries became a publicly traded company.

Diversification

Bols continued to expand its reach over the next few decades until it participated in almost every geographic market in the world. Management was quick to realize, however, that societal trends away from alcohol consumption, particularly spirits, threatened the company. Genever was still a large component of Bol's revenues, and this was a particularly difficult market to grow outside of its native Netherlands, as global drinkers tended to prefer the British "dry" style of gin. A strategy of diversification through acquisition was adopted, and in 1977 Italian brands Cynar and , both aperitifs, were added, and in 1983 the company added its first non-alcoholic beverages with the acquisition of "Terme di Crodo", makers of still and sparkling mineral waters, non-alcoholic bitters, and sodas, including , and various other fruit flavored beverages. (In a later divestiture, these brands became part of Campari Group). Through the 1980s, Bols continued to expand its range of non-alcoholic beverages with particular emphasis on the Italian and Swiss markets.

Already a leading producer of alcoholic beverages in its home country, Bols became the dominant producer of genever with its 1986 acquisition of Rotterdam based Henkes. In addition, this allowed Bols to vertically integrate itself, as Henkes had a network of retail liquor stores in the Netherlands. In 1988, Bols acquired "Strothmann Brennereien GmbH & Co AG.", instantly giving it the largest market share in the Korn Schnapps market, along with distribution channels and production facilities in Germany.

In 1989, Bols formed a joint venture with "Gedistilleerd en Wijngroep Nederland (GWN)", the wine and distilled beverages unit of Heineken, forming "Bols Benelux B.V." The venture attained a near 50% market share in the Dutch liquor business, due in part to GWN's earlier acquisition of Bokma, another leading genever brand. The joint venture expanded into the rapidly growing wine segment, purchasing 85 percent of "Consortium Vinicole de Bordeaux (CVBG)", formerly part of Douwe Egberts. Other smaller French wine houses were quickly added to the portfolio. The company also boosted its operations in Italy in 1990, buying up Ottavio Riccadonna, adding that company's Spumante and Ricadonna brands.

Wessanen merger

By 1993, competition and consolidation in the industry had become cutthroat. Heineken decided to retrench to its beer business, and sold off its stake in the joint venture for 58.6 million guilders. Dutch foods giant Royal Wessanen and Bols saw a natural fit for horizontal integration, and a merger was completed into a new company: "Bols Wessanen". From the beginning, integrating the two lines of business was difficult, and so led to profit pressures. The 1995 annual stockholders meeting was contentious [cite news
last = Bloomberg Business News
first =
coauthors =
title = Bols Wessanen strategy to focus on food
work =
pages =
language =
publisher = The New York Times
date = 1995-04-06
url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE4D91238F935A35757C0A963958260&sec=&spon=&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
accessdate = 2007-09-05 ] and the company decided to focus its growth efforts toward the food sector. In 1997, the company moved to a new headquarters and production facility in Zoetermeer.

By 1999, it was obvious that the partnership wasn't working. The Bols side of the business was being neglected, and management wanted to unlock its potential for growth and profitability. CVC Capital Partners, a private equity firm, agreed, and a management buyout was engineered forming "Bols Royal Distilleries". Immediately thereafter, Bols acquired a number of brands from British drinks conglomerate Diagio. [cite news
last = Bloomberg News; Business and Financial Desk
first =
coauthors =
title = Diageo Sells Last of Four Liquor Brands
work = Late Edition - Final, Section C
pages = 4, Column 3
language =
publisher = The New York Times
date = 1999-09-30
accessdate = 2007-09-05
quote= ...Diageo sold Asbach, a German brandy, and Metaxa, the world's biggest-selling Greek liquor, to Bols Royal Distilleries, owned by the British buyout firm CVC Capital Partners Ltd. ]

Acquired by Remy Cointreau

Almost immediately after the buyout, it became clear that Bols did not have the scale to effectively compete in the rapidly consolidating drinks industry. CVC Capital had an existing relationship with Remy Cointreau, so it seemed natural to combine the two companies. In August 2000 an agreement was reached, and Remy paid CVC €510 million for Bols, [cite news
last = Sorkin
first = Andrew Ross
coauthors =
title = Remy Cointreau to buy Bols
work = World Business Briefing: Europe
pages =
language =
publisher = The New York Times
date = 2000-08-23
url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F07EFDA1631F930A1575BC0A9669C8B63&sec=&spon=&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
accessdate = 2007-09-06 ] which retained a 9% equity stake in the enlarged group. [cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title = Remy Cointreau and Bols merge
work = Corporate Money
pages =
language =
publisher = Centaur Publishing Ltd.
date = 2000-09-06
url =
accessdate = 2007-09-06 ] The merger was perceived as greatly helping both companies, allowing Remy to diversify into products requiring no expensive aging stock, an Eastern European distribution network, and access to Bol's management skills, while giving Bols access to Remy's joint venture worldwide distribution alliance, Maxxium. [cite news
last = Owen
first = David
coauthors =
title = Remy Cointreau finds a cure for hangover: After a long night of foreign slumps and high gearing, the French drinks group has bounced back to buy Bols
work = Companies and Finance: Europe
pages =
language =
publisher = Financial Times
date = 2000-09-15
url =
accessdate = 2007-09-06 ]

The synergies of the combined company were immediately felt. Remy reported a string of strong earnings and profit growth, [cite news
last = Minder
first = Raphael
coauthors =
title = Remy may divest some brands: French drinks group set to streamline operation after acquisition of Bols
work = Companies and Markets
pages = 1
language =
publisher = Financial Times
date = 2001-06-21
url =
accessdate = 2007-09-06
quote= ...Remy reported yesterday a 71 per cent rise in net profits to Euros 94m for the year to March 31. Sales climbed 26 per cent to Euros 926m. The earnings, which included six months of revenues from Bols, were slightly higher than analysts' forecast...] [cite news
last = Minder
first = Raphael
coauthors =
title = Remy uncorks profits, up 12%
work = Companies and Finance: Europe
pages = 1
language =
publisher = Financial Times
date = 2002-06-14
url =
accessdate = 2007-09-06] until a weakening dollar and a temporary drop in sales of Bols Vodka in Poland due to taxation and counterfeiting issues hurt 2003 results. Results in 2004 remained weak, but strong growth was noted of the vodka brand throughout Eastern Europe, and Maxxium committed considerable resources to modernizing the Bols image, including new packaging and refocusing on a youth driven market. [cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title = Maxxium to position Bols as 'celeb drink'
work = Media Relations
pages =
language =
publisher = PR Week
date = 2004-08-20
url =
accessdate = 2007-09-06
quote= ...a range of different media promotions will be created because the 27 variants of Bols appeal to several distinct target markets... [and] seeks to link the brand more closely with its theme of 'lust for life' ] [cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title = Bols in overhaul to ease handling
work = Marketing
pages =
language =
publisher = Haymarket Business Publications Ltd.
date = 2004-11-03
url =
accessdate = 2007-09-06
quote= Promotional activity will target women through celebrity magazines such as OK! and Hello!. Women make up a high proportion of Bols drinkers, according to Maxxium. ] Bols was awarded "Best Brand Re-Launch" by the trade publication Drinks International Magazine.

In 2005, Remy struck a complex deal with Central European Distribution Corporation nasdaq2|CEDC, wherein CEDC took ownership of the Bols production facilities in Poland and licensed various trademarks for use in Poland and Russia in exchange for a 9% equity stake. [cite press release
title = Central European Distribution Corporation Signs Definitive Stock Purchase Agreement With Rémy Cointreau and Takirra Investment Corp. to Acquire Bols Sp. z o.o., Poland's Third Largest Distiller
publisher = Central European Distribution Corporation
date = 2005-06-27
url = http://www.ced-c.com/pr06-27-05.htm
accessdate = 2006-09-06 ] [cite press release
title = Central European Distribution Corporation Completes Strategic Alliance With Remy Cointreau; Acquires Bols Sp. z o.o., Poland's Third Largest Distiller
publisher = Central European Distribution Corporation
date = 2005-08-17
url = http://www.ced-c.com/pr08-17-05.htm
accessdate = 2006-09-06 ] [cite press release
title = Rémy Cointreau completes its strategic alliance in Poland with CEDC
publisher = Rémy Cointreau
date = 2005-08-17
url = http://www.remy-cointreau.com/upload/news/CEDC-US.pdf
accessdate = 2006-09-06 |format=PDF] The deal gave each company access to the other's distribution networks. Remy also received a seat on CEDC's board of directors. CEDC would later buy Bol's Hungarian subsidiary and trademarks.

Management buyout

In 2005, Remy decided to focus on its premium brands, and on December 8th, it announced it would sell the Bols brand to concentrate on its core drinks. On March 16 2006, Remy announced the sale of Bols to European investment fund ABN AMRO Capital (75%), together with a management group led by Mr. Huub van Doorne (25%). Mr. Van Doorne was a member of Rémy Cointreau's Management Board, and led the team that revitalized the Bols brand under Remy's aegis. Mezzanine capital was provided by GSC Group. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Investments, Representative selection
work = GSC Group
publisher = GCS Group
date =
url = http://www.gsc.com/investments/representative.html
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-09-20 ] The new company is named "Lucas Bols, B.V." and is headquartered in Amsterdam. Its assets include the production facilities in the Netherlands, along with the brands, Bols, Galliano, Vaccari Sambuca, Pisang Ambon and Damrak Gin, plus leading Dutch Origin spirit brands such as Bokma and Hartevelt genevers and Coebergh. [cite press release
title = Rémy Cointreau completes the disposal of Bols FOR €210 million
publisher = Rémy Cointreau
date = 2006-03-10
url = http://www.remy-cointreau.com/index.php?id=52&idn=112&archives=2006
accessdate = 2006-09-06 ] Distribution will still be mostly done by Maxxium, although the United States will be handled by new partner William Grant & Son, USA., a wholly owned subsidiary of William Grant & Sons.

Marketing

Bols has greatly increased its marketing presence under the leadership of Mr. Van Doorne, first as part of Remy Cointreau, and now as an independent company. The vision is to drive the Bols brands growth and profitability through the "on-trade" market, meaning in bars and restaurants. To do this, Bols is positioning itself as a leader to bar owners and their staff in support, innovation and new product development. Bols wants its ingredients to be thought of as an irreplaceable component in mixology and cocktail culture, as it capitalizes on evolving trends in the use of liqueurs. [cite news
last = Sherer
first = Michael
coauthors =
title = Cordially yours: cordials have solidly evolved from after-dinner afterthought to mainstream cocktail ingredient
work = Cheers
pages =
language =
publisher = Adams Beverage Group
date = July/August 2002
url =http://www.adamsbevgroup.com/cheers/2002/0208/0208cord.asp
accessdate = 2007-09-12] To this end, Bols actively courts bar owners, bartenders and consumers through a marketing strategy of trade associations, campaigns, sponsorships, and bartending academies and competitions. [cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title = Trend: Liqueurs
work = Beverage Business
pages =
language =
publisher = Hotel & Restaurant
date = 2003-09-01
url =http://www.hotelandrestaurant.co.za/news/2003/september/liqueurs.asp
accessdate = 2007-09-12
quote= Bols is another brand working hard to promote liqueurs in the on-consumption market, with a highlight being the Bols Academy Roadshow....]

Museum

Bols has constructed a "brand experience" in Amsterdam, which includes not only a traditional museum of the history of the brand, its manufacturing methods and ingredients, but also various interactive exhibits which involve the visitor and engage the senses. Visitors can even practice flair bartending.

Bartending Academy

Bartenders themselves are a top priority for Bols [cite news
last = Grant
first = Ben
coauthors =
title = Bols launches bartending academy
work = Drinks Business
pages =
language =
publisher =
date = 2007-08-15
url =
accessdate = 2007-09-12
quote= Nikki Morrison, UK brand manager, says: “Bartenders are the top priority for Bols and the Bols Bartending Academy is the perfect way to inspire bartenders and demonstrate our support...."] and the Bols bartending academy offers accredited courses in bartending, flair bartending, mixology (the science behind bartending) and hospitality management.

Products

Bols produces a number of different brands. It is common in the drinks industry for companies to buy and sell brands among themselves, as business decisions are made about what market space a particular company wants to occupy. With constant consolidation and divestiture in the industry, a company's brand portfolio is usually in a state of flux. Bols owns brands that it has historically produced, as well as ones acquired in various stages of its evolution, either directly or through joint ventures or other partnerships.

Liqueurs

Bols branded

Bols has long produced liqueurs it marketed under its own eponymous brand, going back in time to the very first products it made. Currently, it produces a line of 38 different flavors, sold in the new teardrop shaped bottle. These include:
* Amaretto, an almond flavored liqueur made from apricot pits
* Apricot brandy
* Bitter orange, a lighter orange colored liqueur made from Spanish oranges and bitter herbs.
* Blue Curaçao, a deep blue, orange flavored liqueur made from a variety of orange types and herbs. This is Bols' signature product, and is commonly referred to as "Blue Bols".
* Cherry brandy. The cherry pit is also used, imparting a slight almond flavor.
* Coconut liqueur, with rum flavoring.
* Coffee liqueur.
* Crème de Banane, with vanilla, almond, herbs, and spices.
* Crème de cacao brown.
* Crème de cacao white.
* Crème de Cassis, a blackcurrant flavored liqueur.
* Dry Orange Curaçao, a dark orange colored liqueur made from orange peels and bitter herbs.
* Grune Bananes liqueur.
* Kirsch liqueur, a clear Schwarzwalder cherry brandy with added sweetener.
* Kiwi liqueur.
* Lychee liqueur.
* Maraschino, a clear Marasca cherry flavored liqueur Bols makes with Kirsch and a selection of herbs.
* Melon liqueur.
* Parfait Amour, a purple colored Rose petal and orange liqueur, with a hint of vanilla. Another of Bols' centuries old recipes.
* Passion fruit liqueur.
* Peach liqueur.
* Peppermint Green and White. Bols' Crème de Menthe products.
* Prinzenkirsch, a sweeter, juicier Kirsch.
* Raspberry (Framboise) liqueur.
* Red Orange liqueur. A bright red, sweet blend of citrus and tropical fruit such as passion fruit and peach.
* Strawberry (fraise) liqueur.
* Triple sec Curaçao, a clear, orange liqueur.
* Vanilla liqueur.

Also documented elsewhere, but not officially mentioned by Bols are blackberry liqueur, butterscotch schnapps, green tea liqueur, sloe gin liqueur, and sour apple liqueur. "Note: Although fruit brandies are not strictly liqueurs, Bols classifies theirs as such, perhaps due to added sweeteners."

Pisang Ambon

Pisang Ambon is a banana and tropical fruit flavored liqueur.

Galliano

Galliano is a complex anise, vanilla and herbal liqueur first produced by Vaccari. It is also confusingly, a brand name for line of other liqueurs from Vaccari, most or all of which are no longer produced. The line included an amaretto, a black sambuca, a white sambuca and a white peach liqueur.

Vaccari Sambuca

Sambuca is a traditional Italian liqueur flavored with star anise.

Bootz

Bootz is a Dutch-only brand which includes a wide range of liqueurs and spirits.

Coebergh

Coebergh is a Dutch only brand which is the number one liqueur and the biggest drinks brand for women in the Netherlands. It is produced in four styles: Coebergh Classic has a blackcurrant/blackberry flavor, Coebergh Red has a cranberry flavor, Coebergh Cherry and Coebergh raspberry.

Evita

A Dutch-only coffee flavored liqueur.

Goldstrike

A Dutch-only cinnamon schnapps, similar to Goldschläger.

Konitiki

Kontiki is a gin-based liqueur flavored with lemon and grapefruit.

Zwarte Kip

Zwarte Kip is an advocaat, a thick and creamy eggnog flavored liqueur.

Liquors

Bols branded

Bols has a line of internationally shipped vodka, flavored vodkas, gin, and genever. As noted above, in Eastern Europe, the Bols brand is produced and marketed by another entity, CEDC.

Damrak Gin

Damrak is a luxury, international-style gin. It has been well reviewed in independent drinks competitions. Damrak was Amsterdam's first harbor, and the name pays tribute to the original genever trade.

Bokma

Bokma is a Dutch-only brand of genevers, Lemon Genever, and Lemon Brandy.

Claeryn

Claeryn is a Dutch-only brand of "jonge" genever. Claeryn was also involved in an important legal case involving trademarks. The Benelux Court of Justice held that a similarly named liquid detergent infringed due to the concept of detriment of repute. [Claeryn / Klarein, Case A 74/1, judgment of 1 March 1975, Jurisprudence of the Benelux Court of Justice 1975, p. 472.]

Els La Vera

is a traditional bitters from the Limburg region, popular in the south of the Netherlands.

Hartevelt

Hartevelt is another complete line of genevers and lemon brandy.

Hoppe

Yet another "jonge" genever.

Parade

An old Dutch value brand used in off-trade (home) mixing.

Notes

Further reading

* "De lange levens van zeven Nederlandse bedrijven" by Wim Wennekes. 1990.
* "De branderijen in Holland tot het begin der negentiende eeuw" (The Dutch distilleries till beginning of the 19th century) by P.J. Dobbelaar. 1930
* Several contributions to the Quarterly Magazine of the Dutch bottle collectors club "De Oude Flesch" by Lodewijk van Sint Maartensdijk. 1979-1995.

External links

* [http://www.lucasbols.com/index.asp Lucas Bols B.V. official site]
* [http://www.houseofbols.com/index.asp House of Bols official site]
* [http://www.bolsbartendingacademy.com/index.asp Bols Bartending Academy official site]
* [http://www.bolscocktails.com/home.asp Bols professional bartender site]
* [http://www.galliano.com Galliano official site]
* [http://www.pisangambon.com Pisang Ambon official site]
* [http://www.bokma.com Bokma official site (English)]
* [http://www.bootz.nl/ Bootz offical site (Dutch)]
* [http://www.mannenonderelkaar.nl/index.asp Hartevelt site (Dutch)]
* [http://www.redfruitfarm.com/ Coebergh site]