FDBusiness.com

French and international wines and spirits group Pernod Ricard is included in the league table of the most innovative companies in the word, published by the American magazine Forbes, being ranked in 15th place globally, 2nd place in Europe and 1st in France, ahead of Danone (25th worldwide) and LVMH (71st worldwide). Pernod Ricard also tops the list of groups in the drinks industry, ahead of China’s Kweichow Moutai and Wuliangye Yibin, ranked 18th and 20th, respectively, and Britain’s Diageo (33th).

This ranking is performed annually by two Harvard professors and innovation specialists, Hal Gregersen and Jeff Dyer, authors of the reference book, The Innovator’s DNA.

Thierry Billot, Managing Director for Brands, says: “Moving up one in the rankings from last year’s already strong performance is something for the group and its brands to be really proud of. This is the result of a systematic policy of innovation supported by an entire creative ecosystem within the company, which we have built over the last few years.”

According to Martin Riley, chief marketing officer at Pernod Ricard: “Innovation is part of the group’s daily life. We are currently working on over 300 innovative projects. Innovation is the responsibility of all of us at Pernod Ricard and is resolutely action-oriented.”

Pernod Ricard is the world’s co-leader in wines and spirits with consolidated sales of Eur8.22 billion in 2011/12. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions – Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin & Sprit (2008).