CONTENTS

INDUSTRY NEWS

DISTELL APPOINTS NEW GENERAL MANAGER

Distell, South Africa’s leading producer of wines, spirits and RTDs (ready to drink beverages), has appointed Markus Habermann as general manager to handle its fast-growing duty-free business in Europe.

Habermann, formerly Distell’s commercial director for Europe, joins the heavy-weight duty-free team led by Marius Fouché, with high-level support from Robyn Bradshaw, who focuses on travel retail marketing and activation. Distell’s duty-free division has seen year-on-year sales volumes rise by double digits for the 12 months to October 2013. Europe is an important contributor to the increase, as global travel to the continent from emergent markets continues to grow. Habermann has been involved in the liquor industry for more than 25 years, with 11 of these at Distell. Over the past decade he has built Amarula, the company’s flagship liqueur, into a major player in the German market. Germany is also the single biggest export destination for the brand. He also launched the fast-growing Savanna cider brand in the Netherlands and Germany following its successful foray in the UK, and played a key role in the global success of cognac brand Bisquit in the duty-free channel. Fouché said that Habermann, in addition to his responsibility for all sales across Europe, Markus Habermann - Distell’s new GM had grown Distell’s dutyfree sales volumes six-fold since his appointment 11 years ago. worked across many important markets, not only in mainland Europe but, before joining Distell, in Russia and the US. He “With the company’s strong focus on brings a wealth of experience to the the travel retail business, Markus will division and we are very privileged to now be able to devote his full attention have some of his expertise to unlock to its continued expansion. He has still further potential in Europe.”

GLF CORNER

TRADERS FIGHT ALCOHOL ABUSE

The Concerned Tshwane Liquor Traders Association, an affiliation of Gauteng Liquor Forum, wants to meet with Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, to brief him on their plans to fight the scourge of alcohol abuse in the country. The association’s president, Oupa Mthombeni, said they would also like to work with all stakeholders such as councillors and schools in the area to get the community involved in a fight against alcohol abuse. Mthombeni said underage drinking is a serious problem and as liquor traders they will visit schools to: “Tell learners that we don’t want to see them at our places and as well as educate them about the dangers of alcohol abuse. “We want all our traders in the province to know that selling liquor to a minor, a pregnant woman and a drunken person is an offence. Trading hours are from 10am to 2am. We will involve all community stakeholders because we want them to work with us and report traders who do not comply with the liquor regulations and Act. We want local councillors to invite us to their meetings and give us an opportunity to engage with members of the community on all issues related to liquor trading in their areas. If any of our members do not comply, we will take it up with that particular trader.” concern. They want the government to ensure that they have transport at taverns for customers who have had one too many to drive themselves home.

The association was started in 2011 as a response to government’s concerns regarding alcohol abuse and currently it has nine branches and more than 2000 members. Last year they joined the Gauteng Liquor Forum because they “wanted to speak in one voice as liquor traders in the province”.

Mthombeni said they continuously educate their members about the importance of compliance, and want to make Gauteng the best province with regards to liquor control and compliance by 2017.