GERMANY: Henkell & Söhnlein buys Italian prosecco brand

By Joe Bates | 5 February 2008

Henkell & Söhnlein is to acquire a majority shareholding of the Italian prosecco producer Mionetto SpA from 1 April for an undisclosed sum.

The purchase, which is subject to the German monopolies and mergers commission, is the second major acquisition by Henkell in the last six months.

Last October, the company bought the largest supplier of Ukrainian sparkling wine, Kiev Sparkling Wine Cellars.

"We now have subsidiaries in ten European countries and this latest purchase furthers our policy of internationalisation," said Henkell & Söhnlein press spokesman Jan Rock. "We are excited about the Mionetto purchase as it is a premium quality company and the international prosecco market is growing well."

Based near Treviso and established in 1887, Mionetto produces over 12m bottles of prosecco, wine and spirits a year, including brands such as Mionetto, La Pieve and Amistani. New parent company Henkell & Söhnlein sold 204.8m bottles of sparkling wine in 2006, achieving a turnover of EUR513m (US$753m).

Sectors: Wine