Moët Hennessy India, Lanka Premium Beverages in strategic partnership

• Key initiative to drive growth in luxury beverage market

Moët Hennessy India and Lanka Premium Beverages yesterday (Thursday) announced their strategic partnership for growth in the luxury beverage market. 

Moët Hennessy India Ltd. (MHI) is a subsidiary of Moët Hennessy, part of LVMH – Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world’s leading luxury group.

Known for their excellence in research and innovation, Moet Hennessy is widely recognised for the quality of its products. The company’s portfolio varies from champagne to wines from the finest wine growing regions in the world to premium spirits.

Moet Hennessy India was incorporated on 1 April 2001. The company undertakes import, sales and marketing in India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives of MH luxury portfolio of wines and spirits. The company’s international brands are available in the country today.

The strategic partnership with Lanka Premium Beverage, a joint venture between MMI and Truebell, is the start of a new relationship for the luxury group MHI that is revered for its excellent track record in product and delivery in the Sri Lankan market.

Moët Hennessy’s portfolio of overseas vineyards is the fruit of an exciting series of acquisitions started some 50 years ago. The house of Moët & Chandon first wanted to invest in and develop vineyards in Argentina where the terriers were capable of producing fine sparkling wines following the traditional Champagne method. In the 1980s and 1990s, the prestigious house of Veuve Clicquot looked to California, Australia and New Zealand to acquire labels and vineyards that symbolised the New World.

The exclusive event that marked the celebration of this new beginning was held at the fine dining destination and Colombo’s only French restaurant, Café Francais, known for their delectable cuisine. Guests were treated to a sublime menu from renowned chef, who flew in especially for the occasion, and whose culinary skill has been awarded with the ultimate accolade – three Michelin stars, Jacques Pourcel. 

The commencement of the association was celebrated with the grandeur and glamour brought to the evening with numerous flutes of Moët & Chandon.

The menu was a fusion of his culinary style and a reflection of the new partnership between MHI and LPB, sophisticated, even extravagant with its constant quest to push new boundaries, to dare to step outside of the classics and look around both locally and internationally for an ever-changing style.

Commenting at the celebration of the partnership agreement, Moët Hennessy India Ltd. Managing Director Stephan de Muerville said: “I am looking forward to bring to fruition this new initiative between us and Lanka Premium Beverages. Our goals will only be possible through innovative partnerships such as this one, where we join forces and combine our respective expertise and resources, thereby achieving common objectives. Our strategies are based on three key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics.”

MMI Chief Operating Officer Iain Delaney added: “MMI is delighted to announce the agreement between Lanka Premium Beverages and our valued partner Moet Hennessy India. MMI with its partner Truebell established Lanka Premium Beverages with the aim of becoming the leading premium independent beverage distributor in the Sri Lankan market and the agreement with MHI and its world-class portfolio is a major step towards achieving this goal, MMI works closely with Moet Hennessy in a number of other markets and we look forward to building on our successful partnership.”

MMI’s gold-standard reputation for commercial transparency, processes, and ease of distribution; along with their quality guarantee and state-of-the-art facilities in Jebel Ali, Dubai, gives beverage brands the ideal platform to introduce their products to Sri Lankan hotels and resorts supporting MMI’s goal to become the leading independent distributor of premium beverages in emerging markets.

Pix by Indraratne Balasuriya