Distil Regulatory News (DIS)

11 Jul 2005 07:00

Blavod Extreme Spirits PLC11 July 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11 July 2005 Blavod Extreme Spirits Adds Two Retail Distribution Deals in US with Walgreens and Binny's Blavod Extreme Spirits (LSE:BES) is pleased to announce two retail agreements inthe US market with Walgreens in the State of Florida and Binny's Beverage Depotin the State of Illinois. Walgreens will stock BES' Blavod Black Vodka.Binny's will stock several of BES's Players Extreme vodkas and Blavod BlackVodka. Walgreens has more than 600 stores in Florida with 139 licensed to sellbeverage alcohol. Binny's, nicknamed America's #1 Wine and Spirits Superstore,has 12 stores in the Chicago area. "Both these agreements will create useful inroads into two very significant USmarkets," said Jeff Hopmayer, CEO of Blavod Extreme Spirits. "Walgreens andBinny's are both major players in their respective states, Walgreens inparticular, which is in the middle of a large store expansion programmerepresents a great opportunity for Blavod Black Vodka. " Blavod Extreme Spirits also announced the following: •Peapod, the leading Internet grocer in the US, will feature Blavod Black Vodka on its shopper's list in Illinois. Peapod has achieved more than 6 million deliveries across the US since its first delivery in 1990. •Papa Razzi, a high-end Italian steakhouse chain in the northeastern part of the US, will feature - Baroncini Chianti Messere - as its house wine. Papa Razzi is part of the larger Back Bay Restaurant group. •The New Hampshire State Liquor Commission placed all three types of Players Extreme rum in the 71 stores it operates. Founded in 1901, Walgreens is the largest drugstore chain in the US based onyearly sales. In fiscal 2004, Walgreens opened 436 new stores. The company willopen about 450 stores in fiscal 2005. Media Contact:Tim Robertson Cardew Group 020 7930 0777Catherine Maitland Cardew Group 020 7930 0777Donna Schwartze 001 314 330 3488 Note to editors:Blavod Extreme Spirits, plc (LSE:BES), established in 2003, is a London-basedand publicly traded company with U.S. subsidiary offices, Blavod Extreme SpiritsUSA, Inc., headquartered in Franklin, Tenn. The BES portfolio includes theaward-winning Players Extreme line featuring Five Times Distilled Vodka alongwith intensely infused Green Apple, Cherry, Lemon, Mandtango (mandarin/tangerine) and Caramel vodkas. Players Extreme also offers flavor-infused rums- Banana, Coconut and Mango. Blavod launched its eponymous black vodka in 1998and has an established UK sales network with distribution in several majorretail outlets, including Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco. The criticallyacclaimed, unique black-colored vodka is available in the United States atretailers including Meijer stores and Beverages and More. BES also represents awine portfolio including Italian estates, Baroncini and Bruno Rocca, amongothers. ### This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange