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Marie Brizard et Roger International

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Earlier this week, to general surprise, French spirits group La Martiniquaise Bardinet revealed that it has been a long-standing shareholder in Belvedere - since yesterday (30 June) re-named as Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits (MBWS) - and now controls 6.8% of the latter's capital.

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Earlier today (13 May), French wine and spirits group Belvédère announced that its first-quarter sales were up 4.4% on a comparable basis. Here, we take a look at the figures for the first three months of 2015 by region:

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Five years ago this week, French wine and spirits group Belvédère was embroiled in legal proceedings with creditors over the amount of debt it owed. Since then, the firm - which has Bruce Willis as a minority shareholder - has endured a roller coaster of fortunes in its bid to stay afloat.

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Belvedere's sales are rising, but only the sale of a core asset looks likely to placate the French drinks firm's creditors.

In 2013, Belvedere entered administration after falling into debt thanks to its purchase of the Marie Brizard liqueurs brand. Four years later, the French spirits company - renamed Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits - is debt free. What's more, its William Peel Scotch whisky has just become the top-selling spirits brand in France. Couple that with an entry into China and you have a company back on the up. just-drinks spoke to Marie Brizard's CEO since 2014, Jean-Noël Reynaud, about how he has turned the firm around by shunning premiumisation, as well as the benefits of Brexit. We also asked: Whatever happened to Bruce Willis?

Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits is to distribute Champagne brand Duval-Leroy in the French modern trade. 

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Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits has confirmed the departure of one of its directors, with Castel’s representative on the board stepping down.

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Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits has posted a double-digit leap in net profits from 2016, but has seen its first quarter this year hampered by destocking.

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Marie Brizard Wines & Spirits has said it is ready to step back into the M&A arena to purchase a rum brand.

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A final-quarter decline for Sobieski vodka has dragged down Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits' full-year sales.

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Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits has confirmed to just-drinks that its distribution configuration, announced earlier this week, will also see the group enter China for the first time.

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Marie Brizard has provided further details on its plans to consolidate route-to market in several of its key countries.

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Coca-Cola HBC's Polish unit has appointed Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits' (MBWS) Polish subsidiary to handle its products in the country. 

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Sazerac has announced the appointment of Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits as distributor for three of its brands in France, including recent purchase Southern Comfort.

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Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits has seen its sales fall in the first three months of this year, although the group maintains its target of "significant" profit growth in 2016.

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Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits has returned to profit in its latest fiscal full-year, despite a slight dip in sales.

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The French unit of Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits has exited its 'continuation plan' in the country, following the clearance of an unspecified amount of debt.

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French drinks group Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits will no longer import Kerrygold's Irish Cream Liqueur into the US market as it looks to recover from going into administration. 

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Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits' Moncigale wine subsidiary has reached agreement in its legal disagreement with the liquidators of French wine group Chamarré.

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Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits has reported growth in its fourth quarter, but a tough Q3 dragged down performance in the full year. 

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Two property sales, one in France the other in Poland will net EUR28m (US$30.5) for Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits.

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Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits has revised its targets for the years ahead, with sales between 2016 and 2018 expected to rise by 8% to 13%.

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Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits has reported a slight dip in sales during the first nine months of 2015, with the top line struggling in the third quarter.

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Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits is to unveil a cannabis-flavoured vodka next week at the Tax Free World Exhibition in Cannes.

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Diageo has launched three expressions under The Singleton of Glendullan brand exclusively into Travel Retail.  

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Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits has reduced net losses by 71% in the six months to 30 June 2015, compared to the same period in 2014. 

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Marie Brizard Wines & Spirits has appointed Travel Retail veteran Kevin Baker to head up its efforts in the channel.

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Here's a round-up of this week's highlights in the global spirits & wine categories. We are also running similar round-ups for beer and soft drinks & bottled water.