Campari Australia is set to launch a new premium spiced rum to the market this week amid the announcement of the group’s first quarter financial results. On Monday, Gruppo Campari reported 21.1 per cent EBIT growth to EUR53.9 million (approx. AUD83 million) and 21.5 per cent organic performance growth in Australia, representing 5.5 per cent of the group’s total sales and 78 per cent of the APAC region’s.

Growth in Australia was driven in particular by Wild Turkey, Wild Turkey ready-to-drink, Aperol, SKYY ready-to-drink and Espolòn. The Wild Turkey ready-to-drink range in particular grew organically by 12.1 per cent in the period.

Aperol showed a 24.7 per cent organic increase globally, while Wild Turkey experienced a positive organic change of 1.9 per cent driven by Wild Turkey bourbon in Australia and Wild Turkey bourbon and American Honey in the US.

The group’s tequila brand Espolòn showed an organic increase of 67.6 per cent, driven by brand building initiatives in Australia, Brazil and Italy and double digit growth in its core US market.

Bob Kunze-Concewitz, Chief Executive Officer for Gruppo Campari said “the results reflect the consistent execution of our growth strategy which is delivering a continuous improvement of the sales mix by brand and market.

“We remain confident that the group will deliver a positive and profitable performance driven, on the one hand, by the growth of high-margin global priority brands, particularly aperitifs, American whiskies and Jamaican rums and, on the other hand, by the positive performance of the group’s core strategic markets.”

Campari Australia among the first to launch new premium spiced rum

Campari Australia will be among the first countries to launch the group’s new Baron Samedi Spiced rum, with spiced rum the fastest growing category in Australia currently.

The company is set to reveal the premium addition to trade and media this week, while the official launch to retail is set for late May (RRP $50).

Baron Samedi Spiced (40% ABV) is a blend of Caribbean column-still rum enhanced with traditional Jamaican pot-still rum. The spirit features natural ingredients of vanilla, cocoa, cinnamon, clove and vetiver, sourced from the home of Baron, Haiti, and delivers a smooth and rich flavour profile, with woody and earthy flavours. A perfect mix is with ginger beer, fresh lime and a dash of bitters.

Campari Australia Marketing Director Nicole Stanners said, “Spiced rum has been the fastest growing spirit category in Australia over the last two years and this brand fills a gap in the premium rum segment that will drive new consumers to the category. It’s a brand we’re very excited to share with our customers and consumers.”