Pernod Ricard India (PRI), global leader in the wine and spirit industry, unveiled its first-ever innovation center in Nashik, India. In line with the company’s strategy to accelerate transformational innovation and strengthen its portfolio offerings, the innovation center will enable cutting-edge research and incubation for dynamic trend-setting product, pack, and process innovations. With India being a strategic market, Pernod Ricard aims to truly exemplify ‘Make in India’ by stepping up local innovations in multiple categories for diverse cohorts while scaling its sustainability and cost leadership in the market.

Located in the periphery of Pernod Ricard India’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Nashik, the innovation center will be the apex lab for strengthening expertise in whiskies, as well as other white and brown spirits along with non-alcoholic beverages. It will provide collaboration opportunities while equipping the organization with latest insights, techniques, best practices, equipment, and future-ready technical capabilities.

“To keep enhancing consumer experience and to meet their demands through our offerings, today we celebrate the launch of our first-ever innovation center at Nashik. Accelerating the government of India’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, we at Pernod Ricard, are committed to innovating, investing, and manufacturing in India. We are thrilled about the advancements, that our innovation lab is set to achieve and cater to the palate of our consumers.

At Pernod Ricard, our commitment is to curate innovative experiences for our audiences and the Nashik Innovation Center is just the beginning in our journey towards creating a world-class R&D and Innovation facility,” said Rajesh Mishra, chief operating officer, Pernod Ricard India.

Spearheaded by a dedicated Innovation and Research & Development (R&D) head and steered by liquid, packaging, analytical and process specialists, the team will be empowered to effectively leverage data and analytics, advanced digital solutions, and equipment integrations to innovate in India for the world.

Speaking on the occasion, Gagandeep Sethi, vice-president of Manufacturing, Pernod Ricard India, said, “Consumer-centricity is at the core of all our strategic interventions at Pernod Ricard India. Creating the ultimate convivial experiences leveraging insight-led innovation continues to be our key objective. Our first-ever innovation center will serve as a destination as well as an incubator to synergize insights, trends, expertise, and technology which will enable us to create premium innovations for our consumers in India. It also strengthens our commitment towards making in India for the world.”

Sustainability and Responsibility is a key pillar of Pernod Ricard’s growth roadmap and is a fundamentally imbibed across the value chain, from grain to glass. Furthering its commitment to Sustainability & Responsibility, this latest innovation center has been envisioned with key focus on green and sustainable practices, for a circular future for the planet and its people.

Pernod Ricard India Private Limited (PRI) is a fully owned subsidiary of Pernod Ricard South Asia and a fast-growing multinational alcohol-beverage company delivering quality products to its consumers across the country.

Impressive Brand Portfolio

Home to renowned brands in each category, Pernod Ricard India holds one of the most dynamic and premium portfolios in the industry, led by Seagram’s whiskies that include Royal Stag, Royal Stag Barrel Select, Blenders Pride, Blenders Pride Reserve Collection, Imperial Blue, 100 Pipers and a wide range of international premium brands such as Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, The Glenlivet, Royal Salute and Jameson Irish whiskey. Some of the eminent brands in the white spirits category include ABSOLUT vodka, Jacob’s Creek and Campo Viejo wines, Martell cognac, Beefeater and Monkey 47 gin, Kahlúa, and Malibu liqueurs, Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagne.

Global yet committed to ‘Make in India’

India continues to be a priority market and central to Pernod Ricard’s operations globally. Being one of the fastest growing businesses for Pernod Ricard globally, the Group’s commitment to the “Make in India” initiative is reflected in its sales portfolio within India, which comprises over 97% of domestically produced brands. With six overseas manufacturing locations including Myanmar, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Nigeria, and Cameroon, and a global footprint in 50+ countries, Seagram’s whiskies are being exported to 33 countries across the world.

With 30 years of rich legacy and operations in India, the company operates through its two distilleries in Nashik (Maharashtra) and Behror (Rajasthan) apart from 30 bottling sites across the country. The company also has a state-of-the-art distillery and winery at Nashik (Maharashtra), one-of-its-kind integrated risk management and zero pollution facility. The two units – Nashik and Rocky, have also become the first winery and the first Alco-Bev units, respectively, to receive the FSSC 22000 certification.

Responsible and Growing for Good

Pernod Ricard India is recognized as an industry leader with accolades including ‘Best Places to Work 2021’ by BW People, Stevie 2021 – Gold for Great Employers and The Economic Times ‘Best Places to Work for Women 2021’. The company has also been certified as 'The Great Place to Work 2021' by the Great Place to Work Institute. With a strong focus on Diversity & Inclusion, Pernod Ricard India has over 50% representation of women on the shop floor in their manufacturing sites in the South and East Zone.

Pernod Ricard India believes in ‘Creating Shared Value’ for the business and local communities in a way that drives transformational growth and development for the country. Pernod Ricard India Foundation (PRIF), a Section 8 Company incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013 (“Act”), is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PRI, instituted to fulfil its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility near its operations and beyond.