Date: Tuesday 25 May 2010
Time: 17.30 - 20.00 (registration from 17.00)
Venue: The Old Jameson Distillery, Dublin 1
Theme: Exporting Irish brands
A key focus for Irish food and drink companies is how to build their sales through exports. At this event we have take two non competing case studies on whiskey and clothing & accessories. Presentations will be made by Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard and Kiely Rowan (aka Orla Kiely) who have have both successfully expanded outside Ireland
- Jameson has more than doubled sales to 2.76 million cases since 1996, making it the biggest selling Irish whiskey. IDPR predicts that by 2011, the brand will achieve its target of three million cases worldwide where it sells in over 120 countries.
- Orla Kiely designs are sold in over 30 countries across the globe and is growing at an average of 18% per annum. In the last few years the brand has licensed numerous products including home ware and stationary. Retail footprint in 2009 for licensing alone exceeds £25 million.
Speakers:
Alexandre Ricard is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard (IDPR). IDPR is a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard, and its principal business is the production, distribution and marketing of Irish whiskey and other distilled spirits, as well as the importation and marketing of premium spirits and wine. The company currently employs about 530 people in four locations around Ireland. Prior to joining IDPR, Alexandre worked with Morgan Stanley in London, Anderson Consulting in Paris and Banque Indosuez in Milan. Alexandre has a MBA, an M.A. in International Studies and a Masters Degree in Finance and Strategy from the École Supérieure de Commerce de Paris (ESCP).
Dermott Rowan is the Managing Director and Owner of Kiely Rowan Plc, the company that owns the fashion brands Orla Kiely and Olive & Orange. Orla Kiely started in the early nineties as a women’s bag designer and gradually grew to incorporate clothing and accessories. Dermott has travelled extensively and possesses a depth of knowledge in international brand building. Acknowledged as an expert in the field of fashion exporting he has taken the Orla Kiely brand to over 30 countries and conquered the toughest markets including Japan and America. In 2009 he was a finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. He lectures on international brand building and export strategy at various colleges in the UK in addition to being a regular guest speaker to the UK Fashion Exports, the Japan Institute and the Entrepreneurs Club of Hong Kong. Dermott was born in Dublin, Ireland. He attended Clongowes Wood College in Kildare at secondary level and went on to graduate from the University of Cape Town in South Africa.