ecoSPIRITS Makes Global Sales Team Appointments Amid Growing Demand for Circular Solutions
LONDON 25 October 2022 In response to continuing growth in demand for its circular packaging technology, ecoSPIRITS has bolstered its global sales team with a series of senior appointments over the last two months, including Iain McPherson as Sales Director, Europe; Jessica Berry as Sales Director, North America; and James Wynn-Williams as Sales Manager, Asia Pacific. Additionally, drinkx +, a Miami-based sales consultancy firm led by industry veteran Chris Hopkins, has been appointed to the role of national sales agent in the United States. Together, the newcomers bolster ecoSPIRITS’ capabilities with more than seven decades of sales and market experience across some of the industry’s largest brands, distributors and wholesalers. The expanded global sales team will work closely with ecoSPIRITS’ worldwide network of Licensed Operators and Climate Partners to accelerate the transition to circular packaging in spirits and wine.
ecoSPIRITS' global network of closed loop service will grow to cover 25 countries by early 2023
In the newly-created role of Sales Director for Europe, Iain McPherson will help navigate ecoSPIRITS’ rapid expansion across the region. McPherson moves across from the United Kingdom’s largest wholesaler, Matthew Clark, where he most recently held the role of Managing Director for Scotland. In this role he was responsible for leading a £100 million business, overseeing a team of 130 and serving more than 2,500 on-premise customers. He has also held roles in wine and beer sales and business development with WaverlyTBS and Scottish & Newcastle. Based in ecoSPIRITS’ growing London office, McPherson is also responsible for ecoSPIRITS’ strategic customer relationships in the region, such as its collaborations with industry leaders such as Pernod Ricard and Diageo. McPherson will also manage a pipeline of new Licensed Operators and markets, including the recently announced ecoSPIRITS Central Europe, ecoSPIRITS Ireland, and ecoSPIRITS Switzerland. He also recently led ecoSPIRITS’ presence at Bar Convent Berlin and Whisky Live Paris.
LONDON 25 October 2022 In response to continuing growth in demand for its circular packaging technology, ecoSPIRITS has bolstered its global sales team with a series of senior appointments over the last two months, including Iain McPherson as Sales Director, Europe; Jessica Berry as Sales Director, North America; and James Wynn-Williams as Sales Manager, Asia Pacific. Additionally, drinks+, a Miami-based sales consultancy firm led by industry veteran Chris Hopkins, has been appointed to the role of national sales agent in the United States. Together, the newcomers bolster ecoSPIRITS’ capabilities with more than seven decades of sales and market experience across some of the industry’s largest brands, distributors and wholesalers. The expanded global sales team will work closely with ecoSPIRITS’ worldwide network of Licensed Operators and Climate Partners to accelerate the transition to circular packaging in spirits and wine.
ecoSPIRITS' global network of closed loop service will grow to cover 25 countries by early 2023
In the newly-created role of Sales Director for Europe, Iain McPherson will help navigate ecoSPIRITS’ rapid expansion across the region. McPherson moves across from the United Kingdom’s largest wholesaler, Matthew Clark, where he most recently held the role of Managing Director for Scotland. In this role he was responsible for leading a £100 million business, overseeing a team of 130 and serving more than 2,500 on-premise customers. He has also held roles in wine and beer sales and business development with WaverlyTBS and Scottish & Newcastle. Based in ecoSPIRITS’ growing London office, McPherson is also responsible for ecoSPIRITS’ strategic customer relationships in the region, such as its collaborations with industry leaders such as Pernod Ricard and Diageo. McPherson will also manage a pipeline of new Licensed Operators and markets, including the recently announced ecoSPIRITS Central Europe, ecoSPIRITS Ireland, and ecoSPIRITS Switzerland. He also recently led ecoSPIRITS’ presence at Bar Convent Berlin and Whisky Live Paris.
“I count it a privilege and fantastic opportunity to join ecoSPIRITS. The response from brands, distributors, and venues from all over the world has been incredibly humbling. ecoSPIRITS technology offers all our partners the ability to make huge progress in removing waste and reducing CO2 in their supply chain and enabling consumers to make choices that really make a difference to the impact we are having on this planet.”
Meanwhile, ecoSPIRITS has appointed Jessica Berry in the newly-created role of Sales Director for North America, where she will oversee sales and expansion in the all-important United States market, as well as regional partnerships in Canada and the Caribbean. Berry has worked with some of the largest brands in the world, having previously held roles at Diageo and Patron Spirits Company, and she has extensive experience in brand building, distributor partnerships and people management. Prior to joining ecoSPIRITS, she held the position of Vice President of Sales for Rosaluna Mezcal where she was responsible for executing a US launch plan in the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, developing a successful growth strategy, and building a national distributor footprint in more than 10 key states. She has worked closely with many distributor partners across the United States and has the know-how and relationships with key stakeholders to successfully launch ecoSPIRITS in North America.
“Joining the ecoSPIRITS team and having the opportunity to launch a new technology that will greatly reduce the waste in our industry is a dream come true! It’s an issue that has frustrated the drinks industry for some time and I know that many in North America are ready to welcome a solution that will help them move away from single use glass. I can’t wait to use my experience to help make a positive impact on our world, and I hope many will join me!”
As ecoSPIRITS prepares to enter the US market under its joint venture with alcoholic beverage importer and distributor, Park Street, it has appointed drinkx +, a sales consultancy led by Chris Hopkins, as a national sales agent for the ecoSPIRITS technology. Under Hopkins’ leadership, drinkx + will focus on ecoSPIRITS’ technology partnerships with leading regional and national hospitality operators and outlet chains. Hopkins, who is also the founder of Hashtag Mixology, was previously Corporate Mixologist for Wynn Resorts, where he oversaw the beverage training and development for 27 different bars and restaurants with a team of more than 200 bartenders. He founded Cocktail Roadshow, a global hospitality consultancy specializing in beverage development, training, and event management for hospitality companies, and he has also worked closely with Bacardi USA, where he grew the brand and mentored a team of ambassadors.
“It’s exciting to be able to play a part in bringing ecoSPIRITS to the US and I am looking forward to introducing this innovative technology to some of the region’s leading regional and national hospitality operators. Sustainability is such a big focal point for many in the industry and drinkx + is ready to work with ecoSPIRITS as it continues to transition people to the circular economy.”
Completing the line-up of new sales team appointments is James Wynn-Williams, who joins as ecoSPIRITS’ Sales Manager for Asia Pacific. Wynn-Williams previously worked as the Australian Sales Manager for Proof & Company, one of the region’s leading independent spirits distributors and the licensed operator for the ecoSPIRITS technology in Australia. In this role, he led a national sales team calling on more than 1,000 on-premise customers across five states and built the ecoSPIRITS closed loop network in Australia from launch to more than 300 active accounts. In his new role, he is responsible for ecoSPIRITS customers and partnerships across the Asia Pacific region, including the launch of closed loop service with Pernod Ricard in Singapore and Diageo in Indonesia, and the rollout of ecoSPIRITS’ SmartKiosk technology in Singapore with Proof & Company and DFI Retail Group, a pan-Asian retailer operating more than 10,200 outlets across the region.
“Having worked for Proof & Company for the past three years meant I was involved in the early days of ecoSPIRITS as it launched in Asia in 2018 and 2019, and I watched it go from strength-to-strength. It’s fantastic to now be working even more closely with this innovative closed loop technology. I am also particularly excited by the company’s first move into the retail environment, starting in the Asia Pacific region.”
Paul Gabie, CEO, ecoSPIRITS
“ecoSPIRITS continues to experience a remarkable level of interest in our technology, and in the circular economy transition in general. With a growing portfolio of global brand partnerships and more than four hundred prospective brand partners on our network waiting list, ecoSPIRITS is investing heavily in our capacity to serve our partners wherever we are present. Welcoming Iain, Jessica, drink+ and James to our global sales team reflects the depth of our commitment to serving those partners – our Licensed Operators and Climate Partners – to the very best of our ability.”
The ecoSPIRITS technology is now available in more than 14 countries and 30 cities across Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Americas. The expansion of ecoSPIRITS’ global sales team will help accelerate the company’s rollout of the world’s first low carbon, low waste distribution technology for spirits and wine, with coverage now expected to expand to 25 countries by early 2023. To find out more information about opportunities to partner with ecoSPIRITS in Europe, please contact Iain McPherson at [email protected], in North America, please contact Jessica Berry at [email protected] and in Asia Pacific, please contact James Wynn-Williams at [email protected]. For media inquiries or general information on ecoSPIRITS, you may contact Sonya Hook, Senior PR Manager at [email protected].
About ecoSPIRITS
ecoSPIRITS is a circular economy technology company that has developed the world’s first low carbon, low waste distribution technology for premium spirits and wine. Our patent-pending closed loop system nearly eliminates all packaging waste in the supply chain. By dramatically reducing packaging and transport, ecoSPIRITS provides both a powerful cost advantage and a transformative carbon footprint reduction. Founded in Singapore in 2018, the ecoSPIRITS technology is now available in more than 14 countries and 30 cities across Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas. More than 1,000 leading bars, restaurants, hotels and retailers have adopted the technology, including Michelin-starred restaurants, World’s 50 Best and Asia’s 50 Best bars and iconic hotels. ecoSPIRITS is now rapidly building a global network of closed loop service, with coverage to grow to 25 countries worldwide by early 2023. Together with our brand partners, importers, distributors, wholesalers, venues, and retailers, we are already making a difference. Each year, ecoSPIRITS and our partners are eliminating hundreds of tons of single use glass waste, planting tens of thousands of trees, and inspiring others to change.
Pernod Ricard Launches Closed Loop Service in Singapore and Makes Plans for Global Rollout With ecoSPIRITS
SINGAPORE 17 October 2022 Pernod Ricard and ecoSPIRITS have launched a portfolio of co-branded circular hardware to service leading bars, restaurants and hotels across Singapore. This pilot project marks an important milestone in a larger-scale collaboration between the two companies, paving the way to further rollouts beyond Singapore. The collaboration in Singapore will eventually cover at least 30 venues, including Republic Bar Singapore, MO Bar and Smoke & Mirrors, and it features three of Pernod Ricard’s iconic spirit brands: Absolut Vodka, Beefeater London Dry Gin, and Havana Club Rum.
The world’s first portfolio of co-branded ecoTOTEs.
Details of the launch were revealed at a press event in Singapore on October 4, along with the release of a ‘Circular Making’ video that explains the process and innovation behind closed loop spirits. Pernod Ricard and ecoSPIRITS joined forces to advocate for the circular economy in the industry by creating a circular journey from their countries of origin to the end consumer in ecoSPIRITS’ award-winning closed loop system.
Circular Making: A video collaboration by Pernod Ricard and ecoSPIRITS.
For the Singapore-based pilot program, ecoSPIRITS has released a portfolio of co-branded ecoTOTE™s and SmartPour™s featuring the three iconic Pernod Ricard spirit brands to service bars, restaurants, and hotels across the city state. Venues can securely refill branded spirit bottles using the latest generation SmartPour 2.0S technology. These co-branded SmartPours are equipped with ecoSPIRITS’ patent-pending Verified Sustainable Refill™ feature, which uses NFC-based refill bottle authentication via a cloud-based software platform. The collaboration will eliminate an estimated 95% of all packaging waste and a minimum of 60% carbon emissions of the packaging and distribution for the participating Pernod Ricard brands in Singapore, when compared with the traditional format of single use glass.
Absolut Vodka uses powerful imagery to highlight the partnership.
The partnership between Pernod Ricard and ecoSPIRITS, which was first announced in March 2022, marks the first of its kind for a global brand portfolio and it is a natural fit for both parties. Pernod Ricard is an industry leader in sustainability, having made broad commitments under a Sustainability & Responsibility roadmap that supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The roadmap includes a pillar of ‘Circular Making’, which envisions reducing carbon footprint and encouraging circularity by developing more sustainable packaging solutions. The company aims to reduce its overall carbon footprint intensity by 50% by 2030, and to pursue a Net Zero trajectory by 2050.
Cutting-edge circular innovation. The SmartPour 2.0S in Absolut, Havana Club and Beefeater branded editions.
To support the Singapore collaboration, leading Singapore distributor Drinks Fellas will join the ecoSPIRITS Climate Partner Program and be the exclusive distributor of Absolut Vodka, Beefeater Gin and Havana Club Rum in ecoTOTE format for the launch period. The company, which is headed up by Jack Ong, joins a growing global coalition of importers, distributors, and wholesalers who are licensed for closed loop distribution using ecoSPIRITS’ technology. Drinks Fellas is the third ecoSPIRITS Climate Partner distributor in Singapore.
Jean Touboul, Managing Director, Pernod Ricard Southeast Asia
“We’re thrilled to start this journey with ecoSPIRITS to create more sustainable and responsible moments of conviviality. It marks a key milestone in our commitment to circular making and distribution, which is at the heart of our 2030 Sustainability & Responsibility roadmap, Good Times from a Good Place. With the highest density of Asia’s Best Bars, and an increasing number of eco-conscious drinkers, Singapore is the perfect location to launch our pilot program. We’re very excited to have the support of Smoke & Mirrors, MO Bar and Republic Bar, three award winning bars in Singapore, and glad that we all share the same vision. Looking ahead, we hope more venues will join us on this circular distribution journey across Asia and the world.”
Paul Gabie, CEO, ecoSPIRITS
“Singapore is home to a celebrated bar scene with a growing crop of sustainable bar concepts and eco-conscious consumers. It’s also where the ecoSPIRITS journey started back in 2018. So, for us, there’s no better place than Singapore to launch our pilot program with Pernod Ricard. Through this first-of-a-kind partnership with a global brand portfolio, we hope to inspire more industry leaders and players to make the pivot to circular. We believe that this is an effective lever on our road to a circular economy and a significant step towards a low carbon revolution.”
Jack Ong, Owner, Drinks Fellas
“Drinks Fellas is excited to be involved in this project with ecoSPIRITS and Pernod Ricard. We have a reputation for responding with agility to an ever-changing market and we have spent many years being at the forefront of shaping and developing Singapore’s spirits sector. We pride ourselves in finding new trends in spirits and we are now at a point where we can fully commit to building sustainability into our plans for the future.”
The Singapore pilot program, which will include a target of 30 bar, hotel and restaurant partners, is forecast to eliminate more than 4,400kg of glass waste and save more than 3,400kg of carbon emissions in the initial six months. In addition, three of Asia’s best bars – MO Bar, Republic Bar Singapore and Smoke & Mirrors – are among the first to join the program and will be serving inventive, sustainably crafted cocktails in celebration of the launch in Singapore.
Journey Cocktail
is made using Beefeater London Dry Gin, Dehydrated Citrus Tea and spices. Journey is inspired by the travels made during the early tea traders in Asia. For this drink, leftover citrus is dehydrated, and turned into a tea by combining it with discarded tea from the bar’s Hi Tea operations to add more flavour. It is then married with Beefeater London Dry Gin and carbonated.
Sunday Spritz Cocktail
is made with Absolut Vodka, Citrus Stock, Lillet Blanc, Chartreuse Jaune, London Essence Peach & Jasmine Soda. Citrus fruits often lead to a lot of waste because they are only used for their peels and juice. As an organic product with high acidity, it is also very difficult and not ideal to compost. To minimize waste and fully utilise them, Republic Bar makes a stock of all-purpose substitute acid, which works wonderfully when mixed in the bar’s Sunday Spritz with Absolut Vodka.
Lacquer-Tini Cocktail
is made from Havana Club 3YO Rum, Jasmine Verte, Acid and Sugar. The drink draws inspiration from the lacquer-style painting of Nguyen Gia Tri’s The Landscape of Vietnam. With botanical and floral notes in a rum-based version of a Daiquiri and Gimlet blend, its clear appearance is not one to be deceived.
This launch in Singapore is an important milestone in a growing collaboration between Pernod Ricard and ecoSPIRITS. In parallel with the rollout in Singapore and one planned for Hong Kong in the coming months, the parties are working together to take the partnership to its next stage, working together on inspiring and encouraging more bars and restaurants to transition to circular packaging across Asia and the world.
Bars, restaurants, and hotels in Singapore interested in participating in the ongoing collaboration between Pernod Ricard and ecoSPIRITS can get in touch via email at [email protected] or [email protected]. To find out more information about ecoSPIRITS, please contact Sonya Hook, Senior PR Manager, ecoSPIRITS at [email protected].
About Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard is the No.2 worldwide producer of wines and spirits with consolidated sales amounting to €10,701 million in fiscal year FY22. The Group, which owns 17 of the Top 100 Spirits Brands, holds one of the most prestigious and comprehensive portfolios in the industry with over 240 premium brands distributed across more than 160 markets. Pernod Ricard’s portfolio includes Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes. The Group’s mission is to unlock the magic of human connections by bringing “Good Times from a Good Place”, in line with its Sustainability and Responsibility roadmap. Pernod Ricard’s decentralised organisation empowers its 19,480 employees to be on-the-ground ambassadors of its purposeful and inclusive culture of conviviality, bringing people together in meaningful, sustainable and responsible ways to create value over the long term. Executing its strategic plan, Transform & Accelerate, Pernod Ricard now relies on its “Conviviality Platform”, a new growth model based on data and artificial intelligence to meet the ever-changing demand of consumers. Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN Code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50 indices.
About Drinks Fellas
Drinks Fellas has been plying the discerning liquor connoisseurs of Singapore with the choicest of spirits since the company’s inception in 2003. Not satisfied with the generic offerings so easily obtained in many of Singapore’s retailers and licensed establishments at that time, the team at Drinks Fellas set themselves the challenge of scouring the globe in search of unique spirits. We are justly proud of all the brands that we are privileged to represent and so now, among a list of over 500 products that adorn our shelves you can find the finest Peruvian pisco from BarSol, as well as Italy’s Fabbri 1905. We believe that products such as these represent the very best of what their region has to offer in terms of quality, value for money and of course taste!
About ecoSPIRITS
ecoSPIRITS is a circular economy technology company that has developed the world’s first low carbon, low waste distribution technology for premium spirits and wine. Our patent-pending closed loop system nearly eliminates all packaging waste in the supply chain. By dramatically reducing packaging and transport, ecoSPIRITS provides both a powerful cost advantage and a transformative carbon footprint reduction. Founded in Singapore in 2018, the ecoSPIRITS technology is now available in more than 14 countries and 30 cities across Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas. More than 1,000 leading bars, restaurants, hotels and retailers have adopted the technology, including Michelin-starred restaurants, World’s 50 Best and Asia’s 50 Best bars and iconic hotels. ecoSPIRITS is now rapidly building a global network of closed loop service, with coverage to grow to 18 countries worldwide by late 2022. Together with our brand partners, importers, distributors, wholesalers, venues, and retailers, we are already making a difference. Each year, ecoSPIRITS and our partners are eliminating hundreds of tons of single use glass waste, planting tens of thousands of trees, and inspiring others to change.
ecoSPIRITS Expands European Footprint With Three New Licensed Operators
BERLIN 10 October 2022 ecoSPIRITS has announced the addition of three new European partners under its Licensed Operator program, which will expand the reach of the global closed loop network to cover Ireland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Czech Republic and Slovakia. The new Licensed Operator for Ireland is Lough Ree Distillery, while ecoSYSTEMS AG has signed the agreement on behalf of Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The final newcomer is ecoSPIRITS Central Europe, which will be operated by TrunkBros s.r.o., and bring closed loop service to the Czech Republic and Slovakia. All three new European partners will join the ecoSPIRITS global team this week at Bar Convent Berlin to meet with brands, distributors, and hospitality operators curious about circular spirits.
ecoSPIRITS’ exhibition at Bar Convent Berlin on 10 -12 October.
ecoSPIRITS‘ Licensed Operator Program first launched in late 2021 with several markets in Asia Pacific and the United Kingdom. Under the program, experienced local industry partners invest in the ecoSPIRITS portfolio of circular technologies, including the ecoPLANT™, ecoTOTE™ and SmartPour™ systems to bring closed loop service to new markets. In return, they receive the long-term rights to operate the ecoSPIRITS closed loop technology in their territory. Licensed Operators commit to offering closed loop service to other industry participants, including premium spirits brands, distributors and wholesalers who are looking to improve their cost and environmental performance. Licensed Operators are supported by a global ecoSPIRITS team, which provides comprehensive engineering, commercial, marketing and sustainability expertise.
ecoSPIRITS' European network now covers eight countries, including several of the largest economies.
TrunkBros s.r.o is the new Licensed Operator for Central Europe, initially covering the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The company is run by the Kastanek brothers, Zdenek and Pavel, who are both native to the region and are well versed in the culture, language and business practices. The pair have complementary skills with Zdenek Kastanek bringing years of food and beverage, as well as distribution experience, balanced with Pavel Kastanek’s skills in marketing and brand building. As its founding member, Zdenek Kastanek spent many years with Proof & Company, one of Asia Pacific’s leading spirits distributors and bar consultancies, before joining ecoSPIRITS in 2019 as International Sales Director. The duo plan to kickstart this venture by introducing two ecoSPIRITS Climate Partner brands from the True Believers portfolio: Widges Gin and Los Arcos Destilado de Agave.
Zdenek and Pavel Kastanek, co-owners of TrunkBros s.r.o.
“In this era of enhanced climate change awareness, we are very excited to help develop the circular economy within the Central Europe region by bringing circular technology for the distribution of wine and spirits, collaborating with local venues and partners, and helping them tackle their levels of waste and carbon emissions. It’s a region we know very well, and we are looking forward to working closely with local and international producers, hotels, bars and restaurant operators. In addition, with Zdenek’s in-depth knowledge of ecoSPIRITS as the company’s International Sales Director, we believe it has a strong future ahead and we are therefore very prepared to invest in it.”
The team behind Lough Ree Distillery will be the new Licensed Operator for ecoSPIRITS Ireland. Lough Ree Distillery, which is based in Lanesborough, Co. Longford in Ireland, is headed up by Michael and Peter Clancy and their sister Sheila Mullen. The two Clancy brothers are bringing their flagship brands – Sling Shot Distilled Irish Gin and Bart’s Irish Whiskey – to the ecoSPIRITS’ stand in Hall 17 at Bar Convent Berlin. Lough Ree is the first distillery to distil peat as a botanical in gin for its Sling Shot brand, while Bart’s Blended Irish Whiskey, which is a complex blend of five different whiskies, is named after their father, Bart Clancy, as a legacy to his memory. Lough Ree also produces the Bridge Series of Whiskey, Zesty Citrus Vodka and Aiteal Distilled Irish Gin.
Peter Clancy (pictured centre), CEO of Lough Ree Distillery.
“At Lough Ree Distillery we have been assessing our packaging and processes to see where we can reduce our impact on the planet. Like many others, we are trying to reduce our carbon footprint while facing huge challenges due to rising waste disposal and supply chain issues for packaging. ecoSPIRITS is a sustainable, circular distribution model that meets all these challenges and can bring additional benefits in terms of product traceability and integrity. The ecoSPIRITS closed loop technology is a game changer for the spirits and hospitality industries and we’re delighted to be the ones to bring this innovative and disruptive solution to the Irish market.”
The Licensed Operator for Switzerland and Liechtenstein is ecoSYSTEMS AG, a new company set up by three hospitality experts: Armin Azadpour, Justin R. Rayani and Erik Amstad. All three have many years of experience in the drinks industry: Azadpour runs the popular venues: Hunky Dory in Frankfurt and Bar Lupo in Zurich, while Rayani is the owner of the Zurich-based bars Dante, Grande and Le Raymond. Amstad’s background is in the on-trade drinks industry, having worked in global roles for leading consumer brands, such as Coca-Cola and Red Bull.
Armin Azadpour (pictured right), co-owner of ecoSYSTEMS AG.
“Collectively the three of us have many years of experience in the drinks trade across various parts of Europe, and we are very excited to be able to join forces and to work together with ecoSPIRITS as the Licensed Operator for Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Many of the venues and drinks businesses in this region already have a big focus on environmental concerns and we are looking forward to working with them on their long-term sustainability strategies by helping them make the move towards ending single use glass. The ecoSPIRITS system will also deliver a reduction in the carbon emissions footprint of the spirits’ packaging and distribution.”
ecoSPIRITS will be represented in Hall 17 (stand 17C45) at Bar Convent Berlin (10 – 12 October) by members of its global team, including Iain McPherson, ecoSPIRITS Sales Director, Europe. For the first time, the team will exhibit the full portfolio of ecoSPIRITS closed-loop technologies, including a complete ecoPLANT, which is ecoSPIRITS’ containerised, semi-automated processing facility. Also at the show will be the company’s latest generation of dispense technologies including the patent-pending SmartPour™ and SmartKiosk™. The new SmartKiosk is ecoSPIRITS’ intelligent retail system, which allows consumers to securely and safely refill branded spirits bottle in retail environments. In addition, Climate Partner brands from the existing ecoSPIRITS markets will be exhibited.
Visitors to BCB can see the full collection of ecoSPIRITS’ hardware.
Iain McPherson, ecoSPIRITS Sales Director, Europe.
“I am delighted that ecoSPIRITS closed loop technology will be introduced into these markets by knowledgeable and excellent partners. We look forward to working with our Licensed Operators in providing a platform for the industry to adopt the circular economy in these new markets. The transition from single use packaging to circular spirits and wine is a complex endeavour. Our Licensed Operator Program taps into the best of ecoSPIRITS’ global expertise and our operator’s local knowledge to help our partner brands distributors, and outlets make this important transition in a commercial sustainable way.”
Parties interested in finding out more about these three new Licensed Operators or ecoSPIRITS’ presence at Bar Convent Berlin may contact Iain McPherson, Sales Director for Europe [email protected] or Sonya Hook, Senior PR Manager, [email protected].
About TrunkBros s.r.o
TrunkBros s.r.o was established in 2018 by brothers Zdenek and Pavel Kastanek with the aim of helping the hospitality industry to have access to artisan, interesting and timeless products with a focus on circular systems and products. Gastronomy and entrepreneurship run in the family, alongside a focus on the environment. The pair have worked in many areas of the industry over the years, in roles ranging from bartenders, ambassadors, cooks, waiters, bosses, drivers and more. In more recent years their work in the sector has spanned out to drinks marketing and distribution in Europe and Asia Pacific. Responsibility and joy of life is what drives the brothers forward and they are always looking at ways to share their passion with others.
For more information, please visit https://trunkbros.com/
About Lough Ree
Founded and run by sibling trio Peter & Michael Clancy and their sister Sheila Mullen, Lough Ree Distillery is the ultimate family business. Commencing operations in 2018 by opening a micro distillery in their hometown of Lanesborough, Co. Longford, the company has an impressive product portfolio of multi award winning products. Lough Ree’s brand emphasises the power of connection – connecting whiskey tradition with modern technology, connecting the gentle pace of rural Ireland with the confidence of a new generation and finally connecting people from far and wide through fine spirits. With innovation at the heart of the business, the team became the first to distil peat as a botanical with their Sling Shot Gin, while Bart’s Blended Irish Whiskey is a complex blend of grain, pot still and peated malt with malt whiskeys finished in Rye and Oloroso casks. The company also has The Bridge series of Single Cask Whiskies.
For more information, please visit https://www.lrd.ie/
About ecoSYSTEMS AG
ecoSYSTEMS AG is a new company set up by a trio of hospitality and drinks experts: Justin Rayani, Armin Azadpour and Erik Amstad. The three decided to put their many years of industry experience together to set up ecoSYSTEMS, with the aim of focusing on sustainable strategies for the bar and drinks sectors around their homelands of Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Between the three of them they have worked in, managed and owned several bars and they have a focus on excellence and quality. With an in-depth knowledge of the bar scene around the region, the team intends to work closely with venues, producers and hospitality businesses to help them transition to environmentally-friendly practices.
For more information, please visit www.ecosystemag.com
About BCB
Bar Convent Berlin, which takes place in the Messe Berlin exhibition centre, is the largest trade fair for the bar and beverage industry. Bar owners, bartenders, distributors and manufacturers from around 80 countries come to BCB in Berlin every year to make new contacts, learn about product innovations and attend seminars. The event is unique in that it includes large and small brands exhibiting their wares side by side, a wealth of visitors from around the world and entertaining and informative presentations and seminars from top industry experts. BCB has expanded its global network with further shows in the US (Bar Convent Brooklyn) and Brazil (Bar Convent Sao Paulo). The first of the annual Berlin events took place in June 2018.
For more information, please visit https://www.barconvent.com/en-gb.html
About ecoSPIRITS
ecoSPIRITS is a circular economy technology company that has developed the world’s first low carbon, low waste distribution technology for premium spirits and wine. Our patent-pending closed loop system nearly eliminates all packaging waste in the supply chain. By dramatically reducing packaging and transport, ecoSPIRITS provides both a powerful cost advantage and a transformative carbon footprint reduction. Founded in Singapore in 2018, the ecoSPIRITS technology is now available in more than 14 countries and 30 cities across Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas. More than 1,000 leading bars, restaurants and hotels have adopted the technology, including Michelin-starred restaurants, World’s 50 Best and Asia’s 50 Best bars and iconic hotels. ecoSPIRITS is now rapidly building a global network of closed loop service, with coverage to grow to 18 countries worldwide by late 2022.
Together with our brand partners, importers, distributors, wholesalers and venues, we are already making a difference. Each year, ecoSPIRITS and our partners are eliminating hundreds of tons of single use glass waste, planting tens of thousands of trees, and inspiring others to change.
For more information, please visit www.ecospirits.global
ecoSPIRITS Releases Intelligent Circular Retail Technology With Proof & Company and DFI Retail Group
SINGAPORE 12 September 2022 ecoSPIRITS has announced the release of the latest innovation in its Intelligent Circular™ roadmap and its first foray into circular packaging solutions for the retail channel. The innovative SmartKiosk™ technology allows consumers to sustainably reuse branded spirits bottles in a secure, digital shopping experience. The new SmartKiosks will be pioneered by Proof & Company, ecoSPIRITS’ largest licensed operator in Asia Pacific, and DFI Retail Group, a leading pan-Asian retailer operating more than 10,200 outlets across the region. Additional SmartKiosks will be deployed in ecoSPIRITS markets around the world in the coming months.
The patent-pending SmartKiosk 1.0S. An interactive, planet-friendly consumer shopping experience like no other
The new SmartKiosk 1.0S is an intelligent circular retail technology that makes it possible to securely and sustainably reuse branded spirits bottles for the first time. Wifi-enabled and powered by ecoSPIRITS’ cloud-based CircularONE™ software platform, each SmartKiosk 1.0S is equipped with a large high-definition touchscreen, bottle and brand authentication through a unique Verified Sustainable Refill™ feature, and fast, accurate refills using ecoSPIRITS’ existing SmartPour™ technology. As an extension of ecoSPIRITS’ existing portfolio of closed loop technologies, the SmartKiosk enables retailers to leverage existing ecoTOTE™ distribution in their local market and offer a scalable, cost effective refill solution to consumers.
Each SmartKiosk 1.0S unit supports sustainable refills for a range of six spirit products, with a two-level merchandising display for branded refill bottles and a rear cabinet for convenient restocking of ecoTOTEs. SmartKiosks feature a Microsoft Windows CE-based operating system and live content and data powered by the CircularONE software platform. This software integration makes a range of intelligent features possible, including displaying live content on the 125cm touch screen display, NFC-based bottle authentication via Verified Sustainable Refill, and fast, accurate dispense. Kiosks also feature programmable dispense volumes, stainless steel drip trays and locking wheels for ease of handling.
Cold Storage & CS Fresh, a popular household name and Singaporean icon
Proof & Company, ecoSPIRITS’ Licensed Operator for Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, China, Australia and New Zealand, will be the first partner in the world to own and operate a fleet of SmartKiosks. For the Asia Pacific launch of the new technology, Proof & Company has partnered with DFI to deploy the new SmartKiosks in five CS Fresh supermarkets around Singapore from September 2022. This technology debut with Singapore’s leading premium grocer is aligned with the city state’s Singapore Green Plan 2030, which commits to reducing landfill waste by 30% by 2030.
CS Fresh SmartKiosks offer refills of six different spirits. One tree is planted for each sustainable refill
The new CS Fresh SmartKiosks will offer Singapore’s shoppers access to refills of a selection of craft spirits brands, including gins from Singapore’s own Brass Lion Distillery. Other spirits on offer will include Tried & True Straight Wheat Vodka, Widges Gin, Mackintosh Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and Los Arcos Destilado de Agave. Each refill will offer the shopper significant environmental benefits, eliminating an average of 550g of carbon emissions and more than 700g of single use packaging waste, as well as significant cost savings of up to 20%, compared with the same spirit in its traditional single use packaging format. As part of the collaboration, for each refill purchased ecoSPIRITS, Proof & Company and DFI will jointly plant one tree in the dedicated CS Fresh forest under the ecoSPIRITS Forest Program.
CS Fresh SmartKiosks offer refills of six different spirits. One tree is planted for each sustainable refill
The new CS Fresh SmartKiosks will offer Singapore’s shoppers access to refills of a selection of craft spirits brands, including gins from Singapore’s own Brass Lion Distillery. Other spirits on offer will include Tried & True Straight Wheat Vodka, Widges Gin, Mackintosh Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and Los Arcos Destilado de Agave. Each refill will offer the shopper significant environmental benefits, eliminating an average of 550g of carbon emissions and more than 700g of single use packaging waste, as well as significant cost savings of up to 20%, compared with the same spirit in its traditional single use packaging format. As part of the collaboration, for each refill purchased ecoSPIRITS, Proof & Company and DFI will jointly plant one tree in the dedicated CS Fresh forest under the ecoSPIRITS Forest Program.
Brandon Grusd, General Manager, Southeast Asia, Proof & Company
“Proof & Company is proud to be the very first operator of the SmartKiosk technology globally. Having first pioneered ecoSPIRITS in the on-premise channel back in 2018, it’s a natural fit for our growing network of retailers across Asia Pacific. It also provides a wonderful opportunity for our brand partners, such as Brass Lion Distillery and True Believers, to be at the forefront of consumer innovation. DFI and CS Fresh should be commended for their sustainability leadership in pioneering such a unique shopper experience.”
Gwen Cheong, Head of Corporate and Consumer Affairs, SEA, DFI Retail Group
“DFI is very proud to partner with Proof & Company and ecoSPIRITS in this initiative as part of our sustainability efforts. With a mission to do the right thing for our customers and the environment, the deployment of these SmartKiosks is a clear step towards how we can support the sustainable consumption of wine and spirits while still providing our customers with the products they seek. This deployment is also timely and in line with changing customer behaviours – sustainability has become a powerful value proposition to increasingly conscious consumers and we remain committed to delivering on what our customers have asked for.”
Paul Gabie, CEO, ecoSPIRITS
“Circular retail for spirits and wine presents enormous opportunities, and equally great challenges. Retail purchases make up the largest volume segment for our industry, and the largest source of single use glass waste. As such, it is incumbent upon all of us to find more sustainable ways to serve consumers. Helping shoppers adapt to novel consumption patterns is not easy, but in the face of a global waste and climate crisis adaptation is a must. Together, we can build a future beyond single use packaging.”
Parties interested in learning more about ecoSPIRITS’ global Intelligent Circular network, the new SmartKiosk technology or opportunities to join the ecoSPIRITS Climate Partner Program as a brand or distributor may reach out to [email protected]. For more information on Proof & Company and its leading Asia Pacific spirits distribution platform, please contact [email protected]. For more information on DFI Group or CS Fresh, please contact [email protected].
About DFI Group
DFI Retail Group (the ‘Group’) is a leading pan-Asian retailer. At 30th June 2022, the Group and its associates and joint ventures operated over 10,300 outlets and employed some 220,000 people. The Group had total annual sales in 2021 exceeding US$27 billion.
The Group provides quality and value to Asian consumers by offering leading brands, a compelling retail experience and great service; all delivered through a strong store network supported by efficient supply chains. The Group (including associates and joint ventures) operates under a number of well-known brands across food, health and beauty, home furnishings, restaurants and other retailing. The Group’s parent company, DFI Retail Group Holdings Limited, is incorporated in Bermuda and has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange, with secondary listings in Bermuda and Singapore. The Group’s businesses are managed from Hong Kong by DFI Retail Group Management Services Limited through its regional offices. DFI Retail Group is a member of the Jardine Matheson Group.
For more information, please visit https://www.dairyfarmgroup.com/en-US/
About Proof & Company
Proof & Company is one of Asia Pacific’s leading independent spirits companies, merging a disruptive approach to independent spirits distribution with a team of highly regarded bartenders and educators, a customer-focused mindset, and the region’s leading hospitality clients. From offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Auckland and Christchurch, Proof & Company manages the exclusive distribution of a portfolio of independent spirits, craft cocktails ingredients, and premium bar tools and glassware. Proof Creative’s award-winning team of Senior Bar Consultants is one of the most well-regarded creative teams in the cocktail and spirits community globally. Together they guide the development of bars for clients across Asia Pacific. Four of these bars ranked in the World’s 50 Best Bars list of 2020 and eight in the Asia’s 50 Best Bars List 2021, including Proof & Company’s own cocktail bar, 28 HongKong Street in Singapore.
For more information, please visit https://proofandcompany.com/
About ecoSPIRITS
ecoSPIRITS is a circular economy technology company that has developed the world’s first low carbon, low waste distribution technology for premium spirits and wine. Our patent-pending closed loop system nearly eliminates all packaging waste in the supply chain. By dramatically reducing packaging and transport, ecoSPIRITS provides both a powerful cost advantage and a transformative carbon footprint reduction. Founded in Singapore in 2018, the ecoSPIRITS technology is now available in more than 14 countries and 30 cities across Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas. More than 1,000 leading bars, restaurants and hotels have adopted the technology, including Michelin-starred restaurants, World’s 50 Best and Asia’s 50 Best bars and iconic hotels. ecoSPIRITS is now rapidly building a global network of closed loop service, with coverage to grow to 18 countries worldwide by late 2022.
Together with our brand partners, importers, distributors, wholesalers and venues, we are already making a difference. Each year, ecoSPIRITS and our partners are eliminating hundreds of tons of single use glass waste, planting tens of thousands of trees, and inspiring others to change.
For more information, please visit www.ecospirits.global
ecoSPIRITS, La Maison du Whisky & Brand Partners Launch Sustainable Pouring Program in France
PARIS 9 August 2022 Joining forces with a group of leading independent spirits producers, ecoSPIRITS France and La Maison du Whisky have launched a Sustainable Pouring Program to take on the single largest source of spirits-related glass waste in bars, restaurants and hotels in France: house pour spirits. This ground-breaking new program will be offered first in the Greater Paris region, starting in August 2022. The program is open to on-premise venue partners seeking to dramatically reduce their environmental footprint, while pouring premium independent spirits at affordable pricing. Participating venues will be able to partner with a selection of award-winning producers curated by the renowned team at La Maison du Whisky, and now available in low waste ecoTOTE™ format.
The Sustainable Pouring Program Lineup
FAIR Quinoa Vodka
An organic, Fair Trade-certified vodka.
Citadelle Gin
The pioneering French gin de château.
Plantation 3 Stars White Rum
A wildly popular artisanal white rum.
Plantation Original Dark Rum
An ideal companion for classic rum cocktails.
Abelha Organic Cachaça
A cachaça made with care for the land and the farmers.
La Travesía Destilado de Agave
A destilado tailored for Mezcal cocktails.
Compass Box Glasgow Blend Scotch Whisky
A sherried, smoky, bold blended whisky.
Select Aperitivo
Proudly Venetian since 1920, for the perfect Spritz.
House pour – or first pour – supply contracts are the cornerstone of the spirits industry, covering the majority of spirits volumes consumed in bars, restaurants and hotels and extending across most major spirits categories. House pour contracts are famous for both their incentives and their complexity, locking venues into long-term commitments in return for favourable pricing. With more than 15,000 on-premise venues operating in the Paris region alone, the house pour segment of the on-premise spirits industry generates a startling volume of single use glass waste. The well-known challenges associated with house pour supply contracts, including complexity of terms, stringent long-term commitments and the reductive nature of a cost-per-shot metric, can also make them unpopular with venues.
The Sustainable Pouring Program Benefits
The new Sustainable Pouring Program offers exceptional quality spirits across nearly all major spirits categories on simplified commercial terms. Each pouring spirit is made available at remarkably affordable pricing, due to the cost savings associated with the patent-pending ecoSPIRITS circular packaging system. Participating venues will be able to serve some of their favourite independent spirits, while eliminating nearly all packaging waste from their house pour supply chain, and dramatically reducing the carbon footprint of their beverage operations.
Exceptional Quality
Affordable Pricing
Simple Terms
Reduced Waste
Impact Reporting
Sustainability Leadership
The Sustainable Pouring Program Benefits
The new Sustainable Pouring Program offers exceptional quality spirits across nearly all major spirits categories with on simplified commercial terms. Each pouring spirit is made available at remarkably affordable pricing, due to the cost savings associated with the patent-pending ecoSPIRITS circular packaging system. Participating venues will be able to serve some of their favourite independent spirits, while eliminating nearly all packaging waste from their house pour supply chain, and dramatically reducing the carbon footprint of their beverage operations.
Curated by the team at La Maison du Whisky, the Sustainable Pouring Program launches with a selection of vodka, gin, rum, cachaça, agave spirit, Scotch whisky and aperitivo options, and will expand over time into other spirit categories. As part of the program launch, award-winning producers Gruppo Montenegro, Compass Box Scotch Whisky, and Abelha Organic Cachaça have joined the ecoSPIRITS Climate Partner Program and will be available in circular packaging format for the first time. Venues participating in the Sustainable Pouring Program will receive additional support from ecoSPIRITS to assist them in tracking the positive environmental impact of their house pours, and promoting their sustainability initiatives to guests. In the first year, the program will be open to a range of hospitality operators in the Paris region. Experimental Group, which partnered with ecoSPIRITS France earlier this year, will be one of the first venue partners to join.
Martin Dupont, CHR Commercial Director, LMDW
“La Maison du Whisky is delighted to strengthen our offering for the French on-premise market with the new Sustainable Pouring Program in partnership with ecoSPIRITS and some of our most valued brand partners. Leveraging the cost savings generated by the ecoSPIRITS closed loop system, we are able to offer our venue partners a simple, no-fuss pouring solution with an extraordinary commercial and environmental proposition.”
John Glaser, Founder of the Compass Box Whisky Company
“At Compass Box, we are committed to a more environmentally focused future. We are therefore excited to be collaborating with La Maison du Whisky on the important ecoSPIRITS initiative with Glasgow Blend and look forward to seeing it served in some of Paris’ finest bars.”
Joseph Caro, Regional Director Gruppo Montenegro
“At Gruppo Montenegro we are extremely pleased to incorporate Select Aperitivo into the ecoSPIRITS Project. As the 2nd largest apéritif market globally, and as long-term partners of LMDW, France is the strategic choice to begin our collaboration and broaden our commitment to sustainability initiatives. We look forward to building on our success as one of the fastest growing apéritif brands, and driving a new competitive approach by offering a premium sustainable spritz experience to our existing and new customer base.”
Tom Stockley, Hive Developer at Abelha
“We’re excited to partner with ecoSPIRITS in France. Reducing single-use glass has been a long term objective of our distillery & by offering Abelha Organic Cachaça in this unique ecoSPIRITS container, we aim to further reduce our carbon footprint whilst continuing to increase awareness of artisanal cachaça – long live the sustainable Caipirinha!”
The Sustainable Pouring Program will welcome the first participating venues in August 2022. Expanding over the remainder of the year, it is expected to eliminate more than 10 tonnes of single use glass waste in the first 12 months. Bars, restaurants and hotels in the Paris region interested in learning more about the Sustainable Pouring Program may contact La Maison du Whisky via [email protected]. Brands interested to learn more about joining ecoSPIRITS in France may contact [email protected].
About LMDW
Founded in 1956 by Georges Bénitah, La Maison du Whisky has long been a market leader in fine spirits. With more than 200 employees, LMDW’s expertise spans spirits import and distribution, rare spirits collection, sourcing and discovery, events management and publishing. Their Whisky Live is the world’s premier whisky show, hosted each year in Paris and in other cities around the world. These broad capabilities will strengthen the ecoSPIRITS France platform and help drive scale in circular spirits in one of the world’s largest spirits markets.
For more information, please visit https://www.lmdw.com/
About ecoSPIRITS
ecoSPIRITS is a circular economy technology company that has developed the world’s first low carbon, low waste distribution technology for premium spirits and wine. Our patent-pending closed loop system nearly eliminates all packaging waste in the supply chain. By dramatically reducing packaging and transport, ecoSPIRITS provides both a powerful cost advantage and a transformative carbon footprint reduction. Founded in Singapore in 2018, the ecoSPIRITS technology is now available in 11 countries and 30 cities across Asia Pacific. Europe and the Americas. More 1,000 leading bars, restaurants and hotels have adopted the technology, including Michelin-starred restaurants, World’s 50 Best and Asia’s 50 Best bars and iconic hotels. ecoSPIRITS is now rapidly building a global network of closed loop service, with coverage in 18 countries worldwide by late 2022.
Together with our brand partners, importers, distributors, wholesalers and venues, we are already making a difference. Each year, ecoSPIRITS and our partners are eliminating hundreds of tons of single use glass waste, planting tens of thousands of trees, and inspiring others to change.
For more information, please visit www.ecospirits.global
True Believers Partners With ecoSPIRITS to Launch Los Arcos, The World's First Native Circular Spirits Brand
JALISCO 13 July 2022 True Believers and ecoSPIRITS have announced today the launch of the world’s first spirit brand designed entirely for the circular economy. Los Arcos Destilado de Agave is a high–quality spirit made from 100% Blue Weber Agave, sustainably sourced and produced using traditional methods. As a ‘native circular’ brand, Los Arcos is the first spirit to be designed for – and made available exclusively in – circular packaging technology, including an innovative ‘circular only’ refill bottle and ecoSPIRITS’ ecoTOTE™ and SmartPour™ technologies. Los Arcos Destilado de Agave will be available in ecoSPIRITS markets around the world from August 2022, starting with Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, Cambodia, Australia, New Zealand, the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Los Arcos Destilado de Agave, available exclusively in ecoTOTE™ format for circular distribution.
Why Destilado de Agave?
The demand for Blue Weber Agave certified by the Consejo Regulador Del Tequila, A.C. (CRT) for regulated Tequila production has soared in recent years, fuelled by growing popularity of premium agave spirits and cocktails worldwide. Prices for CRT-certified Blue Weber Agave have increased 750% since 2016, driven by a perfect storm of limited quantities of agave in the ground and an explosion in consumer demand.
The rising cost of Blue Weber Agave.
Traditionally, agave is grown for a minimum of five years prior to harvesting for spirit production. To meet export demand, agave is now being harvested by some producers as young as three years. Unsustainable demand for CRT-certified agave can have a negative environmental impact. Agave is often being planted much closer together, stripping minerals from the soil. Pesticide use is increased to make up for depleted soils and to accelerate the growth cycle. Taken together, these agave cultivation practices can lead to soil erosion and depletion of agricultural farmlands.
Agave field in Jalisco, Mexico.
Destilado de Agave is a spirit category distilled from agave, but that cannot be labelled as Tequila or Mezcal. This category frees producers to source agave from a broader range of farmers and regions, including the much-loved Blue Weber Agave. By sourcing non-CRT certified agave, True Believers is able to sustainably use only mature agave – never younger than 6 years old – and produce a high quality, yet affordable agave spirit during a time when the world is placing an unstainable burden on agave cultivation in Mexico.
As ecoSPIRITS’ original spirit brand partner in 2018, True Believers was founded with a vision of offering a portfolio of high quality, affordable craft pouring spirits with a distinct sustainability ambition. Los Arcos is the fourth True Believers spirit to launch in ecoTOTE format – following in the footsteps of Tried & True Vodka, Widges Gin and Mackintosh Blended Malt Scotch Whisky – and the first to be designed exclusively for closed loop distribution. By mid-2022, the partnership between True Believers and ecoSPIRITS spans 12 countries worldwide, with many more in the pipeline.
A growing global footprint for affordable craft spirits from True Believers.
With Los Arcos, True Believers set out to make the best possible agave spirit that is both sustainable and affordable. Los Arcos is produced using mature agave stocks harvested after a minimum of six years, then distilled using traditional methods. The harvesting of solely mature agave allows soils to regenerate naturally, without the need for pesticides. No diffusers, no additives and no immature agave are used in the production of Los Arcos, yielding a structured, full-flavoured agave profile ideal for mixing quality cocktails and sipping.
Agave hearts or piñas taken for crushing and fermenting.
The Blue Weber Agave.
The Margarita, a world-favourite cocktail.
Produced in Jalisco, Mexico, the heartland of traditional Tequila, Los Arcos’ first release, El Valle, is designed to suit all classic and contemporary Tequila cocktails, and will be released only in ecoTOTE format.
A category-bending spirit is the perfect match for innovative circular packaging technology. As a ‘native circular’ spirit, Los Arcos will be available only in circular format, with no single use bottles available. Instead, True Believers will make full use of the ecoSPIRITS circular technology platform, supplemented by a unique Los Arcos circular presentation bottle designed for refill in both on-trade and off-trade settings. True Believers will also deploy ecoSPIRITS’ next generation SmartPour 2.0S technology for Los Arcos, becoming one of the first brands in the world to offer these intelligent units to on-premise partners. By adopting this ground-breaking approach, True Believers will eliminate all single use glass from the Los Arcos supply chain, dramatically reducing carbon emissions, eliminating nearly all packaging waste, and offering a sustainable footprint from the agave field to glass.
The Los Arcos innovative ‘circular only’ refill bottle. Glass, just not single use.
The SmartPour 2.0S Los Arcos Edition. Intelligent refill technology.
Dan Walker, CEO, True Believers
“Los Arcos is simply one of the most exciting, and innovative, projects in True Believers’ history. At a time when pouring Tequila inventories are becoming increasingly scarce, we can now offer the industry a high quality, sustainable alternative that doesn’t leave the planet with a hangover. By embracing circular from Day 1, Los Arcos has a compelling cost, environmental, and quality story to tell. We can’t wait to share this story with venues and consumers worldwide.”
Paul Gabie, CEO, ecoSPIRITS
“ecoSPIRITS is approached weekly by agave spirits producers, including those making Tequila, about the potential of our circular packaging technology. Mexico’s CRT currently prohibits spirits labelled as Tequila from adopting reusable packaging, making True Believers’ vision for Los Arcos even more inspiring. We are delighted to be able to celebrate this first-to-market milestone in the transition to circular spirits with one of our most active brand partners. Bring on the low waste Margarita!”
For more information on Los Arcos Destilado de Agave or the True Believers portfolio of affordable craft spirits, please visit www.truthinspirits.global on the web or follow @losarcosagave on Instagram. For brands, importers, distributors, wholesalers, bars, restaurants and hotels interested in joining the ecoSPIRITS Climate Partner Program, please contact [email protected]. Media inquiries should be directed to [email protected].
About True Believers
Completely dedicated to craft values, intrinsic quality, authenticity, provenance and transparency, True Believers offer one product per major category such as vodka, gin, scotch, bourbon, destilado de agave, and rum. Each liquid offers true quality and credibility with archetypal flavour profiles and designed to delight bartenders and consumers. Present in the most prestigious venues in the world, True Believers brands are the original launch partners for the ecoSPIRITS circular spirits packaging technology, playing an important role in fighting single use glass in markets around the world.
For more information, please visit www.truthinspirits.com
About ecoSPIRITS
ecoSPIRITS is a circular economy technology company that has developed the world’s first low carbon, low waste distribution technology for premium spirits and wine. Our patent-pending closed loop system nearly eliminates all packaging waste in the supply chain. By dramatically reducing packaging and transport, ecoSPIRITS provides both a powerful cost advantage and a transformative carbon footprint reduction. Founded in Singapore in 2018, the ecoSPIRITS technology supports more than 40 spirits and wine brands in 11 countries and 30 cities across Asia Pacific. Europe and the Americas. More 1,000 leading bars, restaurants and hotels have adopted the technology, including Michelin-starred restaurants, World’s 50 Best and Asia’s 50 Best bars and iconic hotels. ecoSPIRITS is building a global network of closed loop service, which will cover 22 countries by the end of 2022.
For more information, please visit www.ecospirits.global
ecoSPIRITS Launches in the Cayman Islands in Partnership With Agua Hospitality Group and True Believers
GEORGE TOWN 28 June 2022 ecoSPIRITS announced today the launch of closed loop service in the Cayman Islands under a Licensed Operator Agreement with Agua Hospitality Group, one of the islands’ leading hospitality operators. ecoSPIRITS Cayman Islands marks the arrival of closed loop spirits in ecoSPIRITS’ third island market, following launches earlier this year in Bermuda and the Seychelles. As part of the collaboration, Agua Hospitality Group will commence distribution of an exclusive portfolio of craft spirits, starting with True Believers brands. ecoSPIRITS Climate Partner brands Tried & True Vodka, Mackintosh Blended Malt Scotch, Los Arcos Destilado de Agave and Widges Gin will be will be available ecoTOTE™ format across the island from early July.
The Cayman Islands, comprised of Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac, is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom and home to a population of 65,000. A Caribbean pioneer in conservation, the Cayman Islands established marine park systems over 25 years ago, designating approximately 48% of its coastal waters as no-take zones to protect local marine life. One success is the remarkable turnaround of Cayman’s Nassau grouper, critically endangered by overfishing. Alongside financial services, tourism represent the Cayman Islands’ “twin pillars of economic development”, the latter accounting for 70% of GDP. Unspoiled beaches, duty-free shopping, scuba diving, and deep-sea fishing draw 2.3 million visitors yearly, including more than 1.8 million cruise passengers, mostly American nationals. At times, four or five large cruise ships will visit daily, depositing 10,000 cruise tourists at a time in George Town, all eager to experience Caymanian hospitality and delightful local foods and drinks.
Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman
The Nassau grouper, an endangered species
Cruise ships in harbour, Cayman Islands
Agua Hospitality Group is one of the Cayman Island’s most respected hospitality operators. Founded in 2009 with Agua Restaurant, which became one of the islands’ most successful restaurants, the group opened Next Door Cocktail Bar in August 2021 and quickly secured a nomination for Best New International Cocktail Bar for Tales of the Cocktail 2022. The group plans to open three additional venues in 2022: starting in September 2022 with Aria Restaurant, a Mediterranean concept, and Allora Bakery & Café, a casual restaurant serving pizzas, gelato, café food, bakery items, and then a rooftop cocktail bar with ocean views and a party vibe in December 2022.
Next Door Cocktail Bar, George Town
Agua Restaurant, George Town
Wayne Epple, Group General Manager, Agua Hospitality Group & Managing Director, ecoSPIRITS Cayman Islands
“Never had I thought there would be an opportunity for the hospitality and spirits industries to become a major sustainability player by reducing carbon emissions and eliminating single use glass – but this is exactly what ecoSPIRITS is doing globally. Here in the Cayman Islands, rising sea levels are impacting mangrove and marine life and single use packaging is contributing to landfill waste that burdens our limited landmass. The ecoSPIRITS closed loop technology provides a unique, sustainable solution by reducing CO2 emissions and landfill – as single use glass bottles don’t even arrive onshore. This is a huge step forward, something we are extremely proud to be a part of.”
Zdenek Kastanek, International Sales Director, ecoSPIRITS
“As we welcome the third island market to our global network, we are extremely proud to announce this partnership with Agua Hospitality Group, which will showcase their acclaimed bars and restaurants, their commitment to sustainable practices and our shared vision of positive local impact. With ecoSPIRITS’ global platform, we can support the Agua Hospitality Group partners’ work to reduce carbon emissions and have a positive impact on the local environment. There is nothing more exciting that to help bring the circular economy to natural treasures like the Cayman Islands.”
As part of the new partnership, Agua Hospitality Group has set up a dedicated production and warehouse facility in George Town to host and operate ecoPLANT No. 027, the first ecoPLANT in the Caribbean region. Centrally located on Grand Cayman, with convenient access to most of the island’s hospitality venues, ecoPLANT No. 027 will be operated by Agua Hospitality Group staff who are trained and supported by ecoSPIRITS’ operations engineering team. Like Bermuda and the Seychelles, ecoSPIRITS Cayman Islands will join the ecoSPIRITS Oceans Program, operating a fleet of blue Ocean Conservation edition ecoTOTEs and funding one kilogram of ocean waste recovery for each ecoTOTE delivered to bars, restaurants and hotels in the islands.
ecoPLANT No. 027 will be located in the islands’ capital, George Town
Tried & True Vodka in the Ocean Conservation Edition ecoTOTE 3.0SO
The first spirits to launch in ecoTOTE format in the Cayman Islands will come from True Believers, one of ecoSPIRITS’ most active brand partners. True Believers’ vision is to make quality, craft spirits affordable, while guaranteeing provenance with liquid from world class distillers. Committed to doing well by doing good, the True Believers brands are available across the ecoSPIRITS global closed loop network, with the Cayman Islands being the 11th market in the collaboration. Four True Believers spirits will be available in ecoTOTE format through ecoSPIRITS Cayman Islands: Tried & True Vodka, Widges Gin, Los Arcos Destilado de Agave and Mackintosh Blended Malt Scotch.
- 75.7% reduction
- 684g CO2e per bottle
Tried & True Vodka is distilled from organic soft winter wheat grown and milled in France. Proofed down to a cocktail appropriate 44% ABV using carefully filtered well water from the cognac region with zero additive policy.
- 75.6% reduction
- 780g CO2e per bottle
Widges London Dry Gin, 41.5% ABV, is distilled by one of the world’s most respected distilling teams, Maison Ferrand. They call upon their deep knowledge of juniper, gin and distillation to make this gin, developed by Jason ‘Widge’ Williams. The botanical mix brightens up cocktails and classic recipes.
- 80.0% reduction
- 553g CO2e per bottle
Los Arcos Destilado de Agave, 42.5% ABV, is made with only mature agave for a structured, full-flavoured profile, ideal for mixing and sipping, for those who appreciate traditional agave spirits. Distilled in the heart of Tequila with a commitment to sustainability and traditional methods.
- 74.3% reduction
- 730g CO2e per bottle
Mackintosh Blended Malt Whisky, 41% ABV, suitable for both cocktails and sipping, it is a blend of single malt whiskies from Highland and Speyside and married for six months in oloroso sherry cask. No grain whisky, no caramel, no chill filtering.
- 75.7% reduction
- 684g CO2e per bottle
Tried & True Vodka is distilled from organic soft winter wheat grown and milled in France. Proofed down to a cocktail appropriate 44% ABV using carefully filtered well water from the cognac region with zero additive policy.
- 75.6% reduction
- 780g CO2e per bottle
Widges London Dry Gin, 41.5% ABV, is distilled by one of the world’s most respected distilling teams, Maison Ferrand. They call upon their deep knowledge of juniper, gin and distillation to make this gin, developed by Jason ‘Widge’ Williams. The botanical mix brightens up cocktails and classic recipes.
- 80.0% reduction
- 553g CO2e per bottle
Los Arcos Destilado de Agave, 42.5% ABV, is made with only mature agave for a structured, full-flavoured profile, ideal for mixing and sipping, for those who appreciate traditional agave spirits. Distilled in the heart of Tequila with a commitment to sustainability and traditional methods.
- 74.3% reduction
- 730g CO2e per bottle
Mackintosh Blended Malt Whisky, 41% ABV, suitable for both cocktails and sipping, it is a blend of single malt whiskies from Highland and Speyside and married for six months in oloroso sherry cask. No grain whisky, no caramel, no chill filtering.
Dan Walker, CEO, True Believers
“True Believers is thrilled to be partnering with Agua Hospitality Group. The high calibre of their venues was a natural fit for our portfolio, and we are looking forward to working with the team to spread the gospel of quality, affordable, independent spirits to other venues across the Cayman Islands. Single use glass is a global problem, but even more so for island nations like the Caymans Islands. We are proud to be joining forces with both Agua Hospitality Group and ecoSPIRITS to begin tackling this issue locally.”
One of ecoSPIRITS Cayman Islands’ first venue partners will be the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, located on the world-famous Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman. Opened in 2016, the Kimpton Seafire is the first ever AAA Five Diamond lifestyle resort on Grand Cayman and rated #1 in Best Cayman Islands Hotels by the U.S. News & World Report in 2022. The resort is home to 264 rooms and three dining outlets, all situated on an elevated perch above the sea and offering stunning views of turquoise waters and sun-bleached sands. As stewards of the environment, the Kimpton Seafire’s sustainability practices include funding the Seafire Guardians to protect and regenerate nearby coral reefs, a sustainability-forward design that includes turtle-friendly outdoor lighting, a ground-source geothermal air conditioning system, and rainwater harvesting.
Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, Grand Cayman
Coccoloba Bar & Grill at the Kimpton Seafire
Seven Mile Beach sunset views
Jim Wrigley, Beverage Manager, Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa
“At Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, we are lucky enough to be surrounded by the beautiful beaches, clear blue sea, amazing flora, fauna and incredibly diverse sea life of the Cayman Islands. It’s massively important to us that we are both conscious and proactive in our efforts to maintain and sustain this environment, so we are fantastically excited to partner with ecoSPIRITS to help us reduce our carbon footprint as much as possible throughout the resort, as well as supporting and promoting the ocean conservation efforts.”
For more information about Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, please contact [email protected]. For Agua Hospitality Group, please contact Agua Restaurant info@agua.ky or Next Door Cocktail Bar [email protected] For information on True Believers and its spirits brands, please contact [email protected]. Brands, bars, restaurants and hotels interested in joining the ecoSPIRITS Climate Partner Program in the Cayman Islands may contact Agua Hospitality Group via [email protected] or ecoSPIRITS via [email protected].
About Agua Hospitality Group
Agua Hospitality Group was established in 2021 following extremely successful 12 years of Agua Restaurant. Twelve years ago, Italian owners Cristiano Vincentini and Walter Fajette established Agua Restaurant and Lounge to create a fresh and vibrant dining experience that avoided conventional Italian restaurant stereotypes. After relocating to Camana Bay’s breezy waterfront in 2018 and undergoing a menu refresh, this long-time favourite seafood restaurant continues to soar in popularity and innovation.
In 2021 with the recruitment of their Group General Manager, Wayne Epple, and the plans for major expansion in the group, they re-branded Agua into the “Agua Hospitality Group” and began expanding. Their next new venue was “Next Door”, a hotel inspired Cocktail Bar which focuses on local sustainable ingredients and local Caymanian bush medicine. In 2022, Next Door was awarded with the Tales of the Cocktail “Top 10 Honoree List” in the Best New International Cocktail bar category. With another 3 venues set to open late 2022, Agua Hospitality Group isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
For more information, please visit www.agua.ky
About Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa
Opened in 2021, Seafire was the first new hotel to be built on the Island of Grand Cayman in a decade, The Seafire Resort + Spa transcends the typical Caribbean resort by becoming the first boutique resort. Boundless open-air architecture features commanding views of the sea at every turn, unfolding to meandering gardens, countless unexpected sanctuaries, and convivial gathering spaces. Escape effortlessly into a sensory adventure of choice, all with memorable Caymanian flavour and warm Kimpton spirit. For enquiries, please contact Kimpton Communications via [email protected]
For general information, please visit www.seafireresortandspa.com
About True Believers
Completely dedicated to craft values, intrinsic quality, authenticity, provenance and transparency, True Believers offer one product per major category such as vodka, gin, scotch, bourbon, tequila, and rum. Each liquid offers true quality and credibility with archetypal flavour profiles and designed to delight bartenders and consumers. Present in the most prestigious venues in the world, True Believers brands are the original launch partners for ecoSPIRITS closed loop spirits distribution technology, playing their role in fighting single use glass.
For more information, please visit www.truthinspirits.com
About The ecoSPIRITS Oceans Program
The ecoSPIRITS Oceans Program complements the ecoSPIRITS Forest Program for island nations that are most at risk from rising sea levels due to climate change. Highlighted by the striking blue Ocean Conservation Edition ecoTOTE, each order of an ecoTOTE by venue partners in participating islands nations funds the removal of one kilogram of single use plastic, glass and other man-made wastes from endangered coral reefs and waters. Using Green Steps Group’s proprietary “proof of impact” technology platform, cleanup operations are verified, monitored and reported through an industry-leading digital record. Ocean waste recovery benefits the venue partners and is jointly funded by ecoSPIRITS and our Climate Partner brands and distributors.
For more information on Green Steps Group, please visit www.greenstepsgroup.com
About ecoSPIRITS
ecoSPIRITS is a circular economy technology company that has developed the world’s first low carbon, low waste distribution technology for premium spirits and wine. Our patent-pending closed loop system nearly eliminates all packaging waste in the supply chain. By dramatically reducing packaging and transport, ecoSPIRITS provides both a powerful cost advantage and a transformative carbon footprint reduction.
Founded in Singapore in 2018, the ecoSPIRITS technology is now available in 11 countries and 30 cities across Asia Pacific. Europe and the Americas. More 1,000 leading bars, restaurants and hotels have adopted the technology, including Michelin-starred restaurants, World’s 50 Best and Asia’s 50 Best bars and iconic hotels. ecoSPIRITS is now rapidly building a global network of closed loop service, with coverage in 18 countries worldwide by mid-2022.
Together with our brand partners, importers, distributors, wholesalers and venues, we are already making a difference. Each year, ecoSPIRITS and our partners are eliminating thousands of tons of single use glass waste, planting tens of thousands of trees, and inspiring others to change.
For more information, please visit www.ecospirits.global
ecoSPIRITS Bermuda Teams Up With Goslings Rum And The Hamilton Princess To Celebrate Local Launch
HAMILTON 28 April 2022 To mark the local launch of closed loop service in Bermuda, ecoSPIRITS and its Licensed Operator, Bermuda Gin Co., have teamed up with two iconic Bermudian brands, Goslings Rum and the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club. As part of the launch, Goslings will join the ecoSPIRITS Climate Partner Program and offer its best-selling rums in low-waste ecoTOTE™ format across the island. The Hamilton Princess, Bermuda’s most storied hotel, is one of ecoSPIRITS Bermuda’s first venue partners and will offer a special celebration menu of sustainable Bermuda Gin Co. and Goslings Rum cocktails through July 2022.
Goslings is Bermuda’s oldest business and the largest exporter of a Bermuda-made product. Owned and operated by the seventh and eighth generations of the Gosling family, Goslings is a world-renown rum producer that operates Bermuda’s largest and only solar-powered spirits blending and bottling facility. As part of the new partnership, Goslings is hosting and operating ecoPLANT No. 026 on behalf of ecoSPIRITS Bermuda, acting as an expert operational partner for closed loop spirits processing for Bermuda.
ecoPLANT No. 026 is now operational in Hamilton, Bermuda
Assistant Master Blender and ecoPLANT Manager Alex Holmes at Goslings’ spirit blending and bottling facility
Goslings rums are based on family recipes and are blended by hand in Bermuda. The famed Goslings Black Seal Rum, itself from a 150-year old recipe, is the official rum of Bermuda, having long ago become synonymous with the island. Black Seal is an essential ingredient in Bermuda fish chowder and the spirit of Bermuda’s favourite cocktail, the Dark ‘n Stormy. Goslings’ Black Seal, Amber and Silver Rums will all be available in ecoTOTE format across Bermuda from the beginning of May. The transition away from traditional single use glass packaging will allow Goslings to eliminate an estimated 91.3% of the carbon footprint associated with packaging and distribution of their award-winning rums in Bermuda.
Ambrose Gosling, Managing Director, Gosling Brothers Limited
“At Goslings, we are huge proponents of drinking responsibly and drinking sustainably. In 1860, we started by selling our rums directly from the barrel, with customers bringing their own bottles to fill. Then, in 1914, we began bottling our rums in champagne bottles that were reclaimed from the British Officers’ Mess. Now in 2022, we are proud to be partnering with ecoSPIRITS Bermuda to once again offer our rums in a sustainable package in an effort to reduce waste and carbon emissions.”
Another Bermuda icon, the grand pastel-pink Hamilton Princess, has been a landmark on the waterfront of Bermuda’s capital city since 1885. Managed by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, which is a subsidiary of Accor Hotels, the ‘Pink Palace’ has played host to Bermuda’s most discerning visitors for more than a century. With over 400 guest rooms, as well as a full service marina and private beach club, the hotel plays an important role in both business and leisure in Bermuda. Surrounded by lush greenery, Hamilton Princess is a short walk to downtown Hamilton. Renowned for its attentive levels of service, culinary and beverage offerings the Hamilton Princess is able to honour the fragrances and flavours of Bermuda.
Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, a landmark on the waterfront of Bermuda’s capital city since 1885
To celebrate the launch of ecoSPIRITS Bermuda, the Hamilton Princess will offer two special sustainable cocktails for the months of May, June and July: a sustainable version of the iconic Dark ‘n Stormy Cocktail with Goslings Black Seal Rum and a sustainable Bermuda Gin & Tonic with White Roof Gin from Bermuda Gin Co. For each sustainable cocktail served, ecoSPIRITS, Goslings and Bermuda Gin Co. will fund the removal of one kilogram of ocean waste from marine environments under the ecoSPIRITS Oceans Program. The collaboration is expected to remove up to two tonnes of ocean waste over the three-month launch period. The partnership builds on ecoSPIRITS’ longstanding relationship with Accor Hotels, which has included similar collaborations with Raffles Hotel Singapore and The Savoy Hotel London.
A sustainability celebration menu at the Hamilton Princess Hotel in Bermuda
Tim Morrison, General Manager, Hamilton Princess & Beach Club
“As an island nation at risk from climate change and rising sea levels “The Princess” is very pleased to be the first hotel to join the ecoSPIRITS Oceans Program. By reducing the level of single use glass in our hotel this exciting collaboration embraces our commitments to the hotel’s Planet 21 sustainability program, reduces our carbon footprint, and aids in protecting beautiful beaches through the ocean waste recovery program. The Hamilton Princess & Beach Club is very proud to be leading the way with our local partners the Bermuda Gin Company and Goslings, in bringing this closed loop circular spirit technology to the island.”
Roy Fellowes, Founder, Bermuda Gin Co.
“ecoSPIRITS offers a global technology solution to reduce carbon emissions and waste in the spirits distribution industry that collectively we have adapted to local resources and capabilities in Bermuda. We are proud to be the ecoSPIRITS Licensed Operator for Bermuda, and delighted to welcome Goslings to the platform as a pioneering partner. Their company’s contributions to Bermuda over the years are substantial, and they will now play an important role in shaping the future of sustainable spirits here. We look forward to seeing everyone soon for a sustainable cocktail at the beautiful Hamilton Princess.”
For more information about the Hamilton Princess and for restaurant or bar reservations, please contact [email protected] or call: +1 (441) 298-2028. Brands, bars, restaurants and hotels interested in joining the ecoSPIRITS Climate Partner Program in Bermuda may contact Bermuda Gin Co. via email at [email protected] or [email protected].
About Goslings Rum
A family business for over 200 years, Goslings Rum is Bermuda’s largest export product and the only company that blends and bottles rum on the island. First sold in the United States in 1980, Goslings now exports five distinctive, award-winning rums: Goslings Black Seal Rum, Goslings Gold Seal Rum, Goslings 151 Proof Black Seal Rum, Goslings Family Reserve Old Rum, and Goslings Papa Seal Single Barrel Bermuda Rum. Goslings Stormy Ginger Beer, crafted specifically for use in the trademarked Goslings Dark ’n Stormy® cocktail, is the number-one selling ginger beer in the United States. Goslings also markets a ready-to-drink Dark ‘n Stormy® cocktail in a can. Goslings is available in all 50 US states as well as the UK, most EU countries, the Caribbean, Canada, Australia and several Asian markets.
For more information about Goslings Rum, visit www.goslingsrum.com and follow @GoslingsRum.
About Hamilton Princess Hotel & Beach Club
Since 1885, Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, has reigned as Bermuda’s “Grande Dame” and has been a symbol of all that Bermudians hold dear—courtesy, hospitality and quality with an unequalled sense of style. An architectural treasure on Hamilton’s harbourfront for more than 130 years, the hotel continues to host royalty, world leaders and dignitaries, celebrities, business travellers and visitors from around the world. The recently renovated Hamilton Princess & Beach Club offers 400 elegant guestrooms, including 43 suites, and more than 30,000 square feet of versatile indoor and outdoor reception and meeting rooms in a peaceful paradise.
For more information, please visit www.thehamiltonprincess.com.
About Bermuda Gin Co.
Bermuda Gin Co., a local, family-owned business was established by Roy Fellowes in October 2019 with the launch of their first product, Pink House gin. White Roof, a classic London dry gin hit the local market in June 2020. Both gins are hand crafted in small batches and are unique in both taste and design. Pink House and White Roof can be found in bars, restaurants and hotels throughout Bermuda, and are available for retail purchase from many supermarkets and liquor stores on the Island. Our mission is to put Bermuda on the gin map of the world by producing locally inspired gin products to capture the spirit and uniqueness of Bermuda itself.
For more information please visit www.bermudaginco.com.
About the ecoSPIRITS Ocean Program
The ecoSPIRITS Oceans Program complements the ecoSPIRITS Forest Program for island nations that are most at risk from rising sea levels due to climate change. Highlighted by the striking blue Ocean Conservation Edition ecoTOTE, each order of an ecoTOTE by venue partners in participating islands nations funds the removal of one kilogram of single use plastic, glass and other man-made wastes from endangered, coral reefs and waters. Using Green Steps Group’s proprietary “proof of impact” technology platform, cleanup operations are verified, monitored and reported through an industry-leading digital record. Ocean waste recovery benefits the venue partners, but is jointly funded by ecoSPIRITS and our Climate Partner brands and distributors.
For more information on Green Steps Group, please visit www.greenstepsgroup.com.
ecoSPIRITS Releases Intelligent Circular Roadmap, With Industry Leader Diageo as Launch Customer
SINGAPORE 19 April 2022 ecoSPIRITS released today a roadmap for an Intelligent Circular™ future in closed loop spirits and wine. Diageo, a global leader in beverage alcohol, will be the launch customer for ecoSPIRITS’ newest smart technologies in a pilot collaboration in Southeast Asia, with the view of a later rollout across the Asia Pacific region. The collaboration will feature two of Diageo’s leading spirit brands, Smirnoff Vodka and Captain Morgan Rum. ecoSPIRITS’ Intelligent Circular vision will transition its existing portfolio of circular hardware innovation into a global platform of Internet of Things (IoT) hardware, software and data. The Intelligent Circular roadmap is designed to bring circular spirits and wine to new levels of scale, efficiency and cost effectiveness.
Under the roadmap, ecoSPIRITS’ core hardware portfolio – the ecoPLANT™, ecoTOTE™ and SmartPour™ – are being upgraded with IoT capability, sensing, tracking and smart features and integrated with a new CircularONE™ software platform. This fusion of hardware and software innovation will dramatically improve closed loop performance. The upgrades will also enable the entire circular platform to generate valuable operational and commercial data for the system users – the growing network of brands, importers, distributors, wholesalers and hospitality venues that make up the ecoSPIRITS Climate Partner Program.
ecoSPIRITS’ expanded portfolio of hardware & software technologies
The first technology release under the Intelligent Circular roadmap is the ecoSPIRITS SmartPour 2.0S, a patent-pending, intelligent dispense solution that is WiFi-enabled and powered by CircularONE. The SmartPour 2.0S offers ecoTOTE tracking, supply chain authentication, depletion reporting, and other smart features. Designed to completely enclose an ecoTOTE 3.0S and offer accurate, one-button spirit pours, the SmartPour 2.0S features an aluminium casing, warm LED lighting, and an LCD display screen. The overall aesthetic and functionality makes the SmartPour 2.0S suitable for front-of-house environments in hospitality venues, offering compelling co-branding opportunities to brand partners.
The new SmartPour 2.0S, Smirnoff Vodka & Captain Morgan Rum Editions
The first technology release under the Intelligent Circular roadmap is the ecoSPIRITS SmartPour 2.0S, a patent-pending, intelligent dispense solution that is WiFi-enabled and powered by CircularONE. The SmartPour 2.0S offers ecoTOTE tracking, supply chain authentication, depletion reporting, and other smart features. Designed to completely enclose an ecoTOTE 3.0S and offer accurate, one-button spirit pours, the SmartPour 2.0S features an aluminium casing, warm LED lighting, and an LCD display screen. The overall aesthetic and functionality makes the SmartPour 2.0S suitable for front-of-house environments in hospitality venues, offering compelling co-branding opportunities to brand partners.
The new SmartPour 2.0S, Smirnoff Vodka & Captain Morgan Rum Editions
As part of the collaboration with Diageo, ecoSPIRITS will deploy the new SmartPour 2.0S first in Bali and Jakarta in Indonesia to select bars, restaurants and hotels with two of Diageo’s leading spirit brands before expanding to other Southeast Asia markets and wider Asia Pacific. Both the new SmartPour 2.0S and the award-wining ecoTOTE 3.0S will be produced in co-branded versions for Diageo. The program will launch in the second half of 2022, bringing closed loop spirits to Indonesia for the first time.
Circular spirits from Diageo, soon available for the first time in Indonesia
To support the pilot program and the expansion of the closed loop network to Indonesia, ecoSPIRITS will deploy an ecoPLANT 2.0S to Diageo’s existing spirits manufacturing facility in Bali, where it will be commissioned to operate as an extension of the facility’s spirits bottling capabilities. This will mark the ecoSPIRITS’ first deployment of an ecoPLANT into a manufacturing facility operated by a global customer.
ecoPLANT No. 20 will be sited with Diageo in Bali, Indonesia
Preeti Arora Razdan, Managing Director, Southeast Asia, Diageo
“Diageo is guided by the goals outlined in our Society 2030: Spirit of Progress 10-year action plan and we are committed to building a low-carbon and zero-waste world. We are thrilled to be partnering with ecoSPIRITS to deliver on this promise by significantly reducing our carbon footprint and eliminating unnecessary glass waste with our on-premise customers. This pilot project is an important step in the right direction to innovate and model new ways to make our packaging more sustainable.”
Sui Ling Cheah, Executive Board Chair, ecoSPIRITS
“ecoSPIRITS has spent eighteen months developing our roadmap for Intelligent Circular, which is all about making global scale possible in circular spirits and wine. We believe that the complete integration of hardware and software innovation is necessary to get there. Diageo’s partnership with ecoSPIRITS in launching the first phase of this new technology platform is reflective of the industry’s commitment to innovation in our collective mission to reduce single use glass packaging. We are truly heartened by the commitment of the entire Diageo team to leading our great industry into a low carbon future.”
More details regarding ecoSPIRITS’ Intelligent Circular rollout, the new collaboration with Diageo, and the launch of closed loop service in Indonesia will be released in the coming months. Bars, restaurants and hotels interested in participating in the Indonesia pilot program may reach out via [email protected]l.
About Diageo
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Singleton, Smirnoff, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray, and Guinness. Diageo is a global company whose products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice. Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.
Media Contacts: Azmar Sukandar, Head of Communications & Society, Diageo Asia Pacific [email protected]
ecoSPIRITS Celebrates France Launch With Experimental Group & FAIR Vodka
PARIS 7 April 2022 Following a brief soft launch period, ecoSPIRITS closed loop service has launched officially in France, starting with the Paris region. To celebrate this milestone, ecoSPIRITS France has teamed up with La Maison Du Whisky and FAIR, the leading Fair Trade liquor brand, to support Experimental Group in reimagining the leading hospitality group’s famed Experience No. 1 cocktail. The new Experience Infinity cocktail will feature FAIR Vodka and be available at both Experimental Cocktail Club and at the Hôtel des Grands Boulevards through June. The early response to ecoSPIRITS in the French market has been strong, with both Experimental Group locations and more than 60 other leading on-premise venues joining the ecoSPIRITS Climate Partner Program in the soft launch period.
The making of the Experience Infinity Cocktail
Experimental Cocktail Club opened in Paris in 2007, marking the emergence of a leading European hospitality brand and operator that has since grown to encompass 24 venues in 6 countries. By focusing on high quality ingredients, Experimental Cocktail Club is credited with having catalysed the cocktail renaissance in France when few bars in the country were focusing on cocktails. Led by three passionate French entrepreneurs Romée de Goriainoff, Pierre-Charles Cros and Olivier Bon, Experimental Group has since branched out to operate bars, restaurants and hotels in Paris, New York, London, Ibiza, Menorca, Verbier and Venice. Each venue showcases the group’s signature style of tailor made bohemian luxury.
Hôtel des Grands Boulevards, Paris
Experimental Cocktail Club, Paris
Olivier Bon, Co-Founder, Experimental Group
“One of the strengths of the Experimental Group is our bars, which we have always loved. We identified a foundational problem with handling the glass bottles, the waste, and the packaging; turning to ecoSPIRITS to reduce this impact as much as possible was an evident choice. One of our establishments’ main challenges is the waste and handling of single-use glass after shifts. We turned to ecoSPIRITS to reduce the operational and environmental impact of this material with less handling, transport and waste.”
The inspiration for the Experience Infinity Cocktail is a rebirth of one of the most popular cocktails in the history of the Experimental Cocktail Club in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. FAIR Vodka, which is organic, Fair Trade certified, and available in low waste ecoTOTE™ format, was an obvious choice for the base spirit. Developed by Karim Hamadouche, Head Bartender at Hôtel des Grands Boulevards, the Experience Infinity Cocktail balances out the cereal notes of the quinoa vodka with a housemade citrus essence incorporating lemongrass, basil and chamomile.
The result is a wholistically sustainable and socially responsible cocktail imbued with freshness and lightness. In celebration of the collaboration, ecoSPIRITS, FAIR, and La Maison du Whisky will sponsor the planting a native tree in the ecoSPIRITS Forest Program for each Experience Infinity Cocktail served over the next three months. Overall, the Experience Infinity cocktail is ethically sourced, involves no packaging or ingredient waste and eliminates an estimated 61g of carbon emissions per cocktail through the elimination of single use glass. This carbon impact is supplemented by an estimated 22 kg of carbon emissions sequestered per annum by each tree planted once it reaches maturity. Trees in the ecoSPIRITS Forest Program have an average lifespan of 100 years.
The Experience Infinity Cocktail, with FAIR Vodka
Karim Hamadouche, Head Bartender, Hôtel des Grands Boulevards
“To celebrate the new partnership with ecoSPIRITS and FAIR, we decided to recreate Experimental Group’s most iconic cocktail. Named Experience infinity, it leverages a homemade citrus essence made of discarded lemon husks, combined with basil water, lemongrass essential oil and chamomile flowers. The result is a fresh, easy, and wholistically sustainable and responsible drink.”
Fair Vodka is the first vodka produced from quinoa, a grain farmed for over 5,000 years by the Incas in South America. Organic and Fair Trade certified, FAIR spirits are ethically sourced and distilled in Cognac, France. Born out of the research of French distillers and Bolivian farmers, quinoa for the production of the vodka is sourced in the Andes mountains from 1,200 Bolivian farmers grouped together in the “Anapqui” cooperative. Having joined as an ecoSPIRITS Climate Partner in France, FAIR will soon become available in ecoTOTE™ format in the United Kingdom as its partnership with ecoSPIRITS begins to expand to markets around the world.
FAIR Quinoa Vodka is now available in France in ecoTOTE format through La Maison du Whisky & Maison Richard
Alexandre Koiransky, Founder, FAIR
“Partnering with ecoSPIRITS and the Experimental Group is more than a business opportunity, this is all about sharing values of sustainability. Our brand FAIR was built on a mission to support small farmers in developing economies. If we can combine our mission with low waste and low carbon distribution, then our work has an even greater meaning. We look forward to expanding this exciting partnership with ecoSPIRITS to the United Kingdom and other markets in the months ahead.”
Jeremy Moreau, Président, eS Operator France SAS
“ecoSPIRITS France is thrilled to announce this collaboration with FAIR and Experimental Group, both trailblazers in their own right. Experimental Group were the first to bring contemporary cocktail culture to Paris back in 2008 and FAIR has been an industry pioneer in their unwavering commitment to ethical ingredient sourcing and sustainable development since 2009. These pioneers are examples of how deep sustainability runs in France, where the soft launch of ecoSPIRITS has been a unmitigated success. Stay tuned for news on exciting brand partners and many more venues in the months ahead!”
For more information about Experimental Cocktail Club and the Hôtel des Grands Boulevards, please contact [email protected]. Bars, restaurants and hotels interested in joining the ecoSPIRITS Climate Partner Program in France may contact La Maison du Whisky via [email protected]. Brands interested to learn more about joining ecoSPIRITS in France may contact [email protected].
About Experimental Cocktail Club
The Experimental Group was founded by Olivier Bon, Pierre-Charles Cros and Romée De Goriainoff, three childhood friends with a taste for innovation. Passionate about the cocktail culture that was developing in New York and London, and convinced that Paris could rediscover its rich mixological history, they opened the Experimental Cocktail Club in 2007 in a small street in the Montorgueil district, which became the spearhead of the cocktail wave in the capital. Xavier Padovani joined them in 2010, reinforcing the group’s common vision to offer a contemporary hospitality experience to a demanding clientele around the world. Now famous for introducing cocktail culture to Paris, the group now operates cocktail bars, wine bars, restaurants and hotels in Paris, New York, London, Ibiza, Menorca, Venice and Verbier.
For more information please visit https://www.experimentalgroup.com/destinations/paris
About FAIR
FAIR is the leading Fair Trade liquor brand. The hallmark of this range (rum, vodka, gin and liqueurs) is in the combined use of fair trade, sustainable development and French craftsmanship for producing these products. The brand has a philosophy of fair deals for all partners involved in the production chain. This aim has taken them across the world in order to produce high-quality spirits from the finest ingredients.
For more information please visit https://fair-drinks.com/