Sazerac Co. says it will adds jobs to Montreal liquor plant acquired from Corby

MONTREAL – Sazerac Company Inc. plans to add more full time jobs at the manufacturing and bottling plant in Montreal it has just acquired from Corby Distilleries Ltd. (TSX:CDL.A), says the New Orleans-based liquor producer.

The bourbon and whisky maker said Thursday its acquired plant has been renamed Sazerac Distillers of Canada and will keep all existing jobs.

The company said it is also adding more permanent jobs at the manufacturing and bottling plant.

Corby announced in September it had agreed to sell a Montreal manufacturing and bottling plant as well as 17 of its brands for about $32.9 million to Sazerac.

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Among the brands sold are De Kuyper Geneva gin, De kuyper Peachtree schnapps, Red Tassel vodka and Silk Tassel whisky.

Corby said the strategic divestiture will free up more of the company’s resources to support its major brands, include Wiser’s Canadian whisky, Lamb’s rum, Polar Ice vodka and McGuinness liqueurs.

The majority of Corby’s brands will continue to made at the company’s Hiram Walker & Sons Ltd. facility near Windsor, Ont., which is managed by Corby’s on behalf of Pernod Ricard SA.

For Sazerac, the acquisition expands its presence in the Canadian whisky market, where it has been growing sales in recent years.

“The Canadian market has become very important for us over the past few years, and we’re excited to have the opportunity to acquire a bigger presence in it,” said Mark Brown, president and chief executive of Sazerac.

“With very few distilleries and production plants for whisky left in Canada, we wanted to ensure that didn’t dwindle further and are committed to maintaining and adding new jobs.”