Pernod Ricard has
said the company will have enough Havana Club for its core German market
even if the US drops an import ban on the rum brand.
Germany
is the top European destination for Havana Club, which increased its market
share in the country by 2% to 22% in Pernod's fiscal 2014/15. However, with the
thawing of Cuban-US relations, the US could be about to allow the Cuba-made
spirit back into the country.
On a
call with analysts today, Pernod's head of Europe, Middle East & Africa,
Christian Porta, was asked if there was a risk the company would have to lower
its Havana Club allocation for Germany if it started shipping to the US.
Porta
said: "I have no doubt we will have enough Havana Club rum to continue to
grow, even if, or even when, the US market opens to Cuban rum." This
month, the Cuban government called
on the US to allow the sale of Havana Club in
the United States.
