Dec 04, 2012 07:15 UTC Pernod and its subsidiaries:Awarded the Special Excellence Prize for the results of the Swedish ABSOLUT by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in France

The Group and its subsidiaries, the Ricard Company and The Absolut Company have been awarded the Special Excellence Prize by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in France for the results of . Pierre Pringuet, Vice-Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Pernod Ricard attended by Philippe Savinel, Chief Executive Officer of Ricard S.A. and Paul Duffy, Chief Executive Officer of The Absolut Company, has been awarded the Prize during a ceremony at the Musée des Arts Forains in Paris on December 3.

The jury praised the entrepreneurship values of the Pernod Ricard Group and its capacity to federate the skill synergies in terms of production, innovation, marketing strategy and distribution between its French and Swedish subsidiaries. The prize recognizes the exceptional success of ABSOLUT VODKA worldwide and particularly on the French market, which “highlights the successful melting of French and Swedish entrepreneurship spirits” according to the Swedish Chamber of Commerce.

ABSOLUT VODKA was acquired by Pernod Ricard – world leader of premium and fourth brand of spirits in the world- in 2008 and is the world’s fourth largest brand of premium spirits in the world. ABSOLUT VODKA keeps on growing worldwide and particularly on the French market, showing an average annual growth of 13 %.

This notable increase is first and foremost due to a marketing strategy elaborated both by the Absolut Company and the Ricard Company which knew how to enhance the Premium image of this vodka and the creative values of the brand.

Thus, a large advertising campaign with the “ABSOLUT PURITY” signature boldly “staged” the production process and the way of drinking ABSOLUT. This creativity has also been consecrated by limited series developed by The Absolut Company and launched in France with success thanks to the mobilization of the commercial and marketing teams of the Ricard Company.

The performance of the brand in France over three years is also due to the commercial expertise and dynamism of the Ricard Company. To do so, the company has the most important sales force in the spirits industry in France.

Now first reference for Premium vodkas, ABSOLUT has reached in France an icon status and the Ricard Company goes on nourishing ambitious goals for the next years with excellence as principle… To be continued, then…

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Pernod Ricard is co-leader in the & Spirits sector worldwide, with 8,215 M€ in net sales in 2011/2012. Created in 1975 by the link-up of Ricard and Pernod, the Pernod Ricard Group has gradually grown through both organic growth and acquisitions : (2001), (2005) and &Spirit (2008). Pernod Ricard has one of the most prestigious portfolios of brands in the sector, including ABSOLUT VODKA and the Ricard.

For further information, please contact:

Björn von Matérn, VP Corporate Communications, The Absolut Company, +46 (0)70 586 72 50, [email protected]

Elin Wibell, Senior Manager Corporate Communications, The Absolut Company, +46 (0)70 190 10 41, [email protected]

The Absolut Company has the worldwide responsibility for the production, innovation and strategic marketing of ABSOLUT VODKA, , Kahlúa, , and Frïs. ABSOLUT VODKA is the world’s fourth largest premium spirits brand. Every bottle of ABSOLUT VODKA is produced in Åhus in southern Sweden. MALIBU is the number one coconut-flavoured rum in the world, sold in more than 150 countries. KAHLÚA coffee is the world leader in its category. As of July 2008, The Absolut Company is a company within the Pernod Ricard group, which holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector. The head office is located in Stockholm, Sweden.

Contacts

Karin Ekroth Press Contact Senior Manager Corporate Communications Corporate Communications [email protected] +46 (0)70 565 72 84 +46 (0)8 744 74 00