Pernod Ricard Seeks Offers for Morris Brand

Pernod Ricard Winemakers has announced that it will be closing and selling the Morris of Rutherglen winery and cellar. For the Morris brand itself, the future with Pernod Ricard is also unclear.

While there have been reports that Pernod Ricard does not intend to sell the Morris Brand, Claire Haigh, Communications Director at Pernod Ricard, told drinks bulletin that the company is in fact, “open to offers.”

Morris Wines has been carried through five generations, established in 1859. The news sees the close of the winery and vineyard expected before the end of the year, and the cellar door shortly after by January 31st 2017.

“Regrettably, we have made the difficult decision to close our Morris Winery and Vineyard,” said Haigh.

“Despite many efforts over recent years, we have been unable to turn this into a sustainable operation, due to the ongoing decline in the consumption of fortified wines and we now need to prioritise resources to strengthen the long-term growth potential of our wine brands. We remain committed to the future of the Australian wine category.”

Pernod Ricard will look to assist affected staff through the transition.

“The wellbeing of our teams is very important to us and our overriding aim is to support them through this difficult period.” Haigh stated.

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