Creation of a joint venture between OAK NATION and MARTELL
The CHARLOIS Group is pleased to announce the creation of WHITE OAK, a joint venture launched in partnership with MARTELL.
WHITE OAK brings together the subsidiaries that exist already within the CHARLOIS Group, such as Nièvre Merrain (stavemakers), Tonnellerie Leroi (coopers) and L’Atelier du Foudrier (manufacturers of vats, tuns and large formats), and will be owned 51% by OAK NATION and 49% by MARTELL.
Sylvain Charlois explains the rationale behind this initiative: “Tonnellerie Leroi was first created by MARTELL, before joining the Saury Group in 2006, which was itself acquired by the Charlois Group in 2009. Given that barrels are an integral element in the process of making cognac, the idea that MARTELL should step back into the world of cooperage took root several years ago. The complementarity of our trades, our common values and our shared history led us to seal our partnership in the form of a joint venture.”
César Giron, Chief Executive Officer of Martell Mumm Perrier-Jouët, and Director of Pernod Ricard relates : “It was over lunch at MARTELL, at the Château de Chanteloup, whilst drawing parallels between the length of time needed for an oak to grow, to make a barrel, and to craft a fine cognac, that Sylvain and I imagined one day, one way or another, strengthening the relations between our two enterprises. I am delighted, several years later, to see this come to fruition.”
The two businesses have also, over recent years, engaged in a common project in which they plant oaks for every barrel produced, in parallel with the acquisition of forest holdings by Tonnellerie Leroi.
This operation is a manifestation of CHARLOIS and MARTELL’s long-term commitment to quality and excellence, focussed on this natural, rare, and precious resource from the forest – the great oak.
FURTHER READING
LET'S TALK!
A Question?
