by Phillip D. Johnson
Joint Venture marks Diageo’s latest step in reclaiming leadership position in tequila in North America Joint venture follows successful strategic alliance to build Cîroc ultra-premium vodka brand
Diageo, the world’s leading premium drinks business, and Sean “Diddy” Combs today announce the creation of a new joint venture, which has acquired prestige tequila brand DeLeón
The joint venture, a 50/50 global partnership between Diageo and Combs Wine & Spirits, builds on the separate strategic alliance formed by Diageo and Combs Enterprises to develop and grow the Cîroc ultra-premium vodka brand. Since the alliance began in 2007, Cîroc has grown from just 50,000 cases a year into a nearly 2 million case brand. The joint venture acquisition of DeLeón will allow the brand to benefit from Diageo’s strong distribution network, supply chain, and marketing capability and Sean Combs’ access to influencers and proven track record of marketing luxury lifestyle brands.
Diageo is the world’s leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Windsor, Buchanan’s and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray and Guinness. Combs Wine & Spirits is a privately owned, premium spirits and wine business founded and created by Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2013. The company, based in New York, NY, is now a partner with Diageo on DeLeón Tequila. Blue Flame, another of Combs’s enterprises, has collaborated with Diageo in marketing Cîroc ultra-premium vodka in the US since 2007.
DeLeón is a 100% blue weber agave boutique tequila brand with a loyal following in Hollywood and the U.S. music industry. The brand has strong appeal with status-conscious consumers who choose spirit brands as part of their luxury lifestyle. The acquisition of DeLeón will accelerate Diageo’s share of ultra-premium and above ($40+) tequila, which is the second-fastest growing segment of the tequila category in the U.S. DeLeón has five variants with suggested retail prices ranging from $120.00 to over $1,000.00. The brand has been distributed in 18 U.S. states and Washington, D.C.
“The joint venture with Combs Wine & Spirits and its purchase of DeLeón is Diageo’s latest step towards returning to a leading position in tequila in North America,” said Larry Schwartz, President, Diageo North America. “Expanding our relationship with Sean Combs into tequila was a natural choice given Sean’s ability to galvanise support for luxury brands, as we’ve seen with our work together on Cîroc. Ultra-premium and above tequila is a very exciting segment – we already have a strong brand there with Don Julio and are pleased to complement that offering with DeLeón.”
“Celebration is a cornerstone of all my businesses, and this joint venture is a natural extension of that portfolio,” said Sean Combs, Chairman, Combs Wine & Spirits. “DeLeón is an outstanding brand that appeals to those who love exceptional tequila in a distinctive bottle. Together with Diageo, we will take DeLeón to new heights.”
Brent Hocking, founder of DeLeón Tequila, added: “In creating DeLeón, I brought the skills of fine wine-making and natural barrel aging to the art of tequila. The result was a spirit unparalleled in purity and taste. I am entrusting DeLeón Tequila to the capable hands of Diageo and Sean Combs as both have demonstrated a commitment to luxury and quality which reflects my own commitment to the DeLeón brand.”
