NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A Bahamian rum producer says that its partnership with a major American alcohol retailer will significantly enhance the prominence of its brands in the US, with the initial order already exceeding prior annual export sales.
John Watling's Distillery Ltd has announced a strategic distribution agreement to commence this Fall with Total Wines & More, a family-owned and privately held American alcohol retailer headquartered in Maryland. Total Wine & More operates 257 superstores across 28 states and continues to grow.
Pepin Argamasilla, co-founder of John Watling's Distillery, told Eyewitness News that following the COVID-19 pandemic, the distillery had downsized its passive export operations.
"Throughout the pandemic, our products were exclusively available for online purchase in the United States. However, we are pleased to announce that our products will now be stocked on the shelves of Total Wines & More, which is expected to significantly enhance the visibility and prominence of our brands in the United States," he noted.
"While it is premature to assess the impact on incremental sales, it's worth noting that our initial order from Total Wines & More has already exceeded our prior annual export sales to the United States."
Argamasilla reproted that John Watling's Distillery has experienced remarkable growth in the post-pandemic era, fueled by the ongoing interest of visitors to The Bahamas in premium Bahamian products and experiences.
"While we typically do not monitor visitor arrivals, we do keep a close eye on their expenditure, which has notably surged by over 50 percent. This surge is indicative of the growing preference among Bahamas visitors for premium-quality offerings. The number of visitors to the Buena Vista Estate surpassed 350,000 in our most recent fiscal year. It is important to emphasize that our primary focus is on delivering value for money, not merely on achieving high-volume sales."
Argamasilla revealed that in the coming months, John Watling's Distillery has plans to unveil a series of announcements regarding our ongoing efforts to enhance the premium quality and broaden the product range at John Watling's Distillery.
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