Distil Regulatory News (DIS)

20 Jul 2005 07:00

Blavod Extreme Spirits PLC20 July 2005 20 July 2005 Blavod Extreme Spirits PLC AGM Statement Colin Campbell, Chairman of Blavod Extreme Spirits PLC ("the Company" or"Blavod"), will make the following comments on current trading at the Company'sAnnual General Meeting being held today at 3.00pm. "As we stated in our June preliminary results announcement, popularity andtherefore demand for our core brands grew rapidly during the fiscal year 2005.The Company achieved its objectives and many of the actions taken during lastyear, in particular the re-packaging of our core Players Extreme range, are nowbeing reflected in the Company's financial performance. Trading in the firstquarter of the current fiscal year, versus the same quarter last year, isshowing significant case sale increases in both the UK and US, up by 38% and206% respectively. Additionally, margins for the total Company continue toimprove. These increases have been primarily driven by the growing popularity of BlavodBlack Vodka and our Players Extreme range, both of which continue to benefitfrom vodka's position as the fastest growing spirit on a global scale. Thefinancial performance has also been augmented through the Company's multiplepartnerships; during the last year the management added 13 new wine and spiritdistribution agreements. As a result Blavod now markets 22 wine and spiritsbrands. In addition, we have recently been able announce a series of listings withsignificant US retailers who are to stock Blavod's products. Today, the Boardis pleased to announce two further US retail listings achieved by ourdistribution partners: Firstly, Crown Wine and Spirits, the largest spirit retailer in South Florida,will sell Blavod Black Vodka and several Players Extreme vodkas in its storesstarting this month. Crown will also feature two of the wines that Blavodrepresents in select stores. Secondly, Big Daddy's, a renowned retailer in Southern Florida, has agreed tosell Blavod Black Vodka and Players Extreme's three rums. Big Daddy's alreadystocks Players Extreme's vodkas. We have made a good start to the year and we are excited about many of theopportunities to develop our existing and future brands. The Board is pleasedwith the Company's trading." Colin CampbellChairman Enquiries: Blavod Extreme Spirits PLCJeff Hopmayer, Chief Executive 020 7352 2096Fred Read, Finance Director 001 615 771 9111 Cardew GroupTim Robertson 020 7930 0777Catherine Maitland Background on Blavod Extreme Spirits Blavod Extreme Spirits plc (LSE:BES), established in 2003, is a London-based andpublicly traded company with U.S. subsidiary offices, Blavod Extreme SpiritsUSA, Inc., headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange