CHILE: Cono Sur buys Fairtrade wine producer

By just-drinks.com editorial team | 14 November 2008

Viña Cono Sur, a subsidiary of wine group Concha y Toro, has bought Chile's leading producer of Fairtrade certified wine, Viña Los Robles.

From the 2009 vintage, Cono Sur intends to integrate the distribution of the Los Robles brand into its UK operation, Concha y Toro UK, the group said today (14 November). A fee for the deal was not disclosed.

Sales of Fairtrade wine in the UK are expected to grow by 46% this year, it was revealed at this week's third annual Fairtrade Wine Competition in London.

Viña Cono Sur is well-known for its commitment to the environment. It claims to be Chile's leading organic wine firm, producing 1.3m hectolitres per year, and has also became carbon neutral in 2007, as certified by the CarbonNeutral Company.

General manager Adolfo Hurtado said: "We will be investing in Los Robles, to develop the Fairtrade business and we are committed to ensuring that all its important social programmes grow and prosper."

Sectors: Wine

Companies: Concha y Toro