{{Short description|Multinational beverage company}} {{Infobox company | name = Suntory Global Spirits Inc. | logo = Suntory Global Spirits logo.svg | logo_caption = Logo used since 2024 | type = Subsidiary | former_name = Beam Inc.<br/>Beam Suntory, Inc. | predecessor = Beam Global Spirits & Wine | foundation = {{start date and age|2011}} (as Beam Inc.) | location_city = New York City, New York | location_country = U.S. | area_served = Worldwide | key_people = Greg Hughes<br/>(president & CEO) | industry = Drink industry | products = Alcoholic beverages | revenue = {{increase}}US$3.1 billion | parent = Suntory Holdings<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wohl |first=Jessica Wohl, By Jessica |title=Beam Suntory, now private, focuses on 'long game' |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-beam-suntory-1009-biz-20141008-story.html |website=chicagotribune.com |date=8 October 2014 }}</ref> | num_employees = 6,000 | homepage = {{url|https://suntoryglobalspirits.com/}} }}
'''Suntory Global Spirits Inc.''', formerly known as '''Beam Suntory, Inc.''', and before that as '''Beam, Inc.''', is an American beverage company that is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings, a Japanese multinational beverage conglomerate.<ref name="Suntory">{{Cite web |title=SUNTORY HOLDINGS COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF BEAM INC. |url=https://www.suntory.com/news/2014/12050.html |access-date=2021-04-03 |website=Suntory Holdings Limited}}</ref> The company produces alcoholic beverages.
It is the third-largest producer of distilled beverages worldwide, behind Diageo and Pernod Ricard. The company's principal products include Bourbon whiskey, Japanese whisky, Scotch whisky, Irish whiskey, Canadian whisky, tequila, vodka, cognac, rum, gin, cordials, and ready-to-drink pre-mixed cocktails.
==History== James Beam began selling barrels of whiskey in 1795. By 1935, his family's business was formally established as the James B. Beam Distilling Company. Ten years later, the Chicago spirits merchant Harry Blum bought the company, and in 1968 sold it to American Brands, Inc.
In 1987, the James B. Beam Distilling Company purchased National Distillers and renamed itself the Jim Beam Brands Company. It was known as Jim Beam Brands Worldwide, Inc. by the time Fortune Brands purchased it in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jim Beam parent to buy Maker's Mark owner |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2005/04/18/daily30.html |access-date=October 21, 2019 |website=Louisville Business First}}</ref> Fortune Brands also acquired 20 brands from Allied Domecq in 2005, worth $5 billion,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Beam Suntory {{!}} Scotch Whisky |url=https://scotchwhisky.com/whiskypedia/2567/beam-suntory/ |access-date=2019-06-19 |website=scotchwhisky.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> which turned Fortune Brands into one of the largest producers of whiskey in the international market.<ref name="ft a9878bea">{{Cite web |last=Kana Inagaki |date=14 June 2016 |title=Beam Suntory: A volatile Japanese-US blend |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a9878bea-2eec-11e6-bf8d-26294ad519fc |access-date=4 November 2017 |website=Ft.com}}</ref>
In 2006, the company was renamed Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. It was split from Fortune Brands to become an independent publicly traded company, Beam Inc., in 2011. As a distinct entity, the company was established as Beam Inc. on October 3, 2011, from the remainder of the Fortune Brands holding company after it sold and divested various other product lines to form a business focused exclusively on spirits and directly related products.<ref name="BeamIncBegins">{{Cite web |date=October 4, 2011 |title=Beam Inc. Begins Life as a Pure-Play Spirits Industry Leader |url=http://www.thestreet.com/story/11266721/1/beam-inc-begins-life-as-a-pure-play-spirits-industry-leader.html |access-date=March 1, 2016 |website=TheStreet.com}}</ref>
In December 2011, Beam Inc. agreed to buy the only independent Irish whiskey distiller that existed at the time, the Cooley Distillery, for $95 million.<ref>(December 16, 2011). [https://www.irishexaminer.com/business/arid-30532528.html "Cooley Distillery Sold for $95M"]. ''Irish Examiner''. Retrieved January 11, 2012.</ref> On April 23, 2012, Beam announced it would acquire the Pinnacle vodka and Calico Jack rum brands for $600 million.<ref name="Beam to acquire Pinnacle">{{Cite web |date=April 23, 2012 |title=Beam buys Pinnacle Vodka and Calico Jack rum from White Rock |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/story/2012-04-23/beam-pinnacle-vodka-calico-jack-rum/54482018/1 |access-date=November 24, 2012 |website=USA Today |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>
200px|thumb|Previous Beam logo thumb|201x201px|Logo until May 2024 In January 2014, Suntory announced a deal to buy Beam Inc. for about $13.6 billion.<ref name="USA Today">{{Cite news |last=Horovitz |first=Bruce |date=January 13, 2014 |title=Suntory buys spirits maker Beam for $13.6B |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/01/13/suntory-buying-spirits-maker-beam/4450909}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.beamsuntory.com/about/history |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707133045/http://www.beamsuntory.com/about/history |archive-date=July 7, 2017 |access-date=August 5, 2017 |publisher=(slideshow) Beam Suntory}}</ref> The acquisition was completed in April 2014, for a final cost of about $16 billion, when it was announced that Beam would become a subsidiary named "Beam Suntory."<ref>[http://www.suntory.com/news/2014/12050.html Beam Suntory completes acquisition of Beam Inc], ''Suntory.com'', 30 April 2014. {{Dead link|date=July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Pfanner |first=Eric |date=May 15, 2014 |title=Suntory Still has M&A Thirst |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304547704579563590503205778 |url-access=subscription |access-date=March 1, 2016}}</ref> The acquisition created a culture shock within the company, when Japanese managers implied that the American-made Jim Beam whisky could be improved with the ''kaizen'' Japanese technique of continual improvement.<ref name="ft a9878bea" />
In November 2015, the company sold Harveys Bristol Cream sherry, as well as the brandy brands Fundador, Terry Centenario, and Tres Cepas, to Grupo Emperador Spain S.A., part of the Alliance Global Group for €275 million.<ref name="EmperadorBuysFundador">{{Cite news |last=Arceo-Dumlao |first=Tina |date=December 1, 2015 |title=Andrew Tan's Emperador buys Spain's Fundador |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |url=http://business.inquirer.net/203455/andrew-tans-emperador-buys-spains-fundador}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Eads |first=Lauren |date=November 30, 2015 |title=Beam Suntory Sells Sherry and Brandy Business for €275 million |url=https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2015/11/beam-suntory-sells-sherry-and-brandy-business-for-e275m/ |url-status=live |magazine=The Drinks Business |location=London, England |publisher=Union Press Ltd. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151212144556/https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2015/11/beam-suntory-sells-sherry-and-brandy-business-for-e275m/ |archive-date=December 12, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=30 November 2015 |title=Beam Suntory vende por 275 millones sus negocios de brandy y jerez en España al grupo dueño de Torre Espacio |url=http://www.eleconomista.es/economia/noticias/7186212/11/15/Beam-Suntory-vende-por-275-millones-sus-negocios-de-brandy-y-jerez-en-Espana-al-grupo-dueno-de-Torre-Espacio.html |access-date=4 November 2017 |website=Eleconomista.es |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=30 November 2015 |title=UPDATE 1-Philippines' group to buy Beam Suntory brands for 275 mln euros |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/beam-suntory-ma/update-1-philippines-group-to-buy-beam-suntory-brands-for-275-mln-euros-idUSL8N13P34C20151130 |access-date=4 November 2017 |website=Reuters.com}}</ref>
In March 2016, the company announced it would move its headquarters to the Merchandise Mart building on Chicago's Near North Side;<ref name="Crain">{{Cite news |last=Frost |first=Peter |date=February 29, 2016 |title=Beam Suntory moving HQ to Merchandise Mart |work=Crain's Chicago Business |url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20160229/NEWS07/160229859/beam-suntory-moving-hq-to-merchandise-mart}}</ref> Beam Suntory is subleasing 110,000 sq. ft on the 16th floor of the Mart from Motorola Mobility.<ref>[http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-beam-suntory-headquarters-1206-biz-20161205-story.html Beam Suntory opens Merchandise Mart headquarters] ''Chicago Tribune'' December 5, 2016</ref>
The Chicago Cubs and Beam Suntory announced a long-term sponsorship deal in January 2017, making Beam the official spirits partner of the Cubs and Wrigley Field.<ref>[http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-cubs-beam-suntory-0113-biz-20170112-story.html Cubs strike long-term sponsorship deal with Beam Suntory] ''Chicago Tribune'' January 12, 2017</ref>
In 2021, the Kamora and Leroux brands were sold to Minnesota-based Phillips Distilling.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carruthers |first=Nicola |date=2021-11-02 |title=Phillips Distilling buys liqueur brands from Beam Suntory |url=https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2021/11/phillips-distilling-buys-liqueur-brands-from-beam-suntory/ |access-date=2022-02-03 |website=The Spirits Business |language=en-US}}</ref>
In July 2022, Governor Beshear of kentucky announced a major investment in Kentucky's bourbon industry as Beam Suntory will expand the capacity of Jim Beam Brands Co. with a $400 million investment that will create more than 50 full-time jobs at the Booker Noe Distillery in Boston, along with a new facility to produce renewable natural gas standards to power the expansion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://newkentuckyhome.ky.gov/Newsroom/NewsPage/20220728_JimBeam |title=Beam Suntory to Invest $400 Million, Create 50-Plus Jobs with Booker Noe Distillery Expansion in Boston, Nelson County |publisher=Kentucky.gov |date=June 28, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.suntoryglobalspirits.com/news/suntory-global-spirits-unveils-renewable-energy-powered-jim-beam-expansion |title=Beam Suntory Unveils Renewable Energy-Powered Jim Beam Expansion in Boston, Nelson County |publisher= Beam Suntory |date=September 14, 2022}}</ref>
In 2024, Beam Suntory sold Courvoisier Cognac to Italy's Campari Group.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carruthers |first=Nicola |date=2024-05-01 |title=Campari completes Courvoisier purchase |url=https://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2024/05/campari-completes-courvoisier-purchase/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=The Spirits Business |language=en-US}}</ref>
In May 2024, Beam Suntory was re-branded as Suntory Global Spirits including the launch of a new website and visual identity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hurt |first=Jeanette |title=Beam Suntory Rebrands As Suntory Global Spirits |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeanettehurt/2024/04/30/beam-suntory-has-now-rebranded-to-become-suntory-global-spirits/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>
== Brands == Suntory Global Spirit beverage brands include:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brands Page |url=https://www.beamsuntory.com/en/brands |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=Beamsuntory |language=en-us}}</ref>
*'''American whiskey:''' **Bourbon whiskey: Baker's, Basil Hayden's, Beam's Eight Star, Booker's, Jim Beam, Kessler, Knob Creek, Legent, Maker's Mark, Old Crow, Old Grand-Dad **Rye whiskey: Jim Beam Rye, Knob Creek Rye, Old Overholt **Blended whiskey: Beam's Eight Star, Kessler, *'''Canadian whisky''': Alberta Premium, Canadian Club *'''Irish whiskey''': Connemara, Kilbeggan, The Tyrconnell *'''Japanese whisky''': Chita, Hakushu, Hibiki, Kakubin, Yamazaki, Toki (a blend of two single malts and a single grain)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Arnold |first=Ian |date=7 January 2022 |title=Whisky Review: Suntory Whisky Toki |url=https://thewhiskeywash.com/reviews/whisky-review-suntory-whisky-toki/ |archive-url=<!-- as of access date, has been archived 14 times --> |access-date=5 October 2024 |website=Whiskey Wash |publication-place=Cheshire, United Kingdome}}</ref> *'''Scotch whisky''': **Single malt Scotch: Ardmore, Auchentoshan, Bowmore, Glen Garioch, Laphroaig **Blended Scotch whisky: Teacher's Highland Cream *'''Spanish whisky''': DYC whisky *'''Gin''': Larios, Sipsmith, Roku *'''Liqueur''': DeKuyper, Midori, Sourz *'''Rum''': Cruzan *'''Tequila''': El Tesoro de Don Felipe, Hornitos, Sauza, Tres Generaciones, 100 Años *'''Vodka''': Effen, Haku, Pinnacle, Vox *'''Chūhai''': Strong Zero (-196)
In addition to brands produced directly by the company and its subsidiaries, Suntory Global Spirit imports and markets some brands produced by others, such as the DeKuyper cordial and formerly the coffee liqueur Kamora. Beam facilities also produce spirits for brands owned by other companies, such as Calvert Extra blended whiskey, now owned by Luxco.
== In popular culture == In the 2003 Sofia Coppola movie ''Lost in Translation'', actor Bill Murray goes to Japan to shoot a commercial for the Suntory whisky and drops the now famous slogan, "For relaxing times, make it Suntory time."<ref>{{Cite web |last=John Kell |date=6 April 2015 |title=Suntory hopes it's now 'Suntory time' in America |url=http://fortune.com/2015/04/06/beam-suntory-bourbon-japan/ |access-date=4 November 2017 |website=Fortune.com}}</ref>
== FCPA Violation ==
In October 2020, Beam Suntory Inc. agreed to pay a criminal monetary penalty of $19,572,885 to resolve a United States department's investigation into violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). The resolution arose in part out of Beam's scheme to pay a bribe to an Indian government official in exchange for approval of a license to bottle a line of products that Beam sought to market and sell in India, and related internal controls and books and records violations, which included efforts by a then-member of Beam's legal department to affirmatively avoid uncovering information related to improper activities and practices by third-parties engaged by Beam in India that presented corruption risks. Beam entered into a three-year deferred prosecution agreement with the Criminal Division's Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois in connection with criminal information unsealed in the Northern District of Illinois charging Beam with one count of conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery, internal controls, and books and records provisions of the FCPA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/beam-suntory-inc-agrees-pay-over-19-million-resolve-criminal-foreign-bribery-case|title = Beam Suntory Inc. Agrees to Pay over $19 Million to Resolve Criminal Foreign Bribery Case|date = 27 October 2020}}</ref>
== See also == {{Portal|Liquor|Drink}} * 2016 Jim Beam strike
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|Beam Suntory|Suntory Global Spirits}} *{{Official website|https://www.suntoryglobalspirits.com/}} {{Finance links historical | name = Beam Suntory, Inc. | sec_cik = 789073 }}
{{Suntory}} {{Authority control|state=expanded}}
Category:Suntory Category:Suntory Global Spirits Category:Alcoholic drink companies Category:Drink companies of the United States Category:2011 establishments in Illinois Category:Food and drink companies established in 2011 Category:American companies established in 2011 Category:2014 mergers and acquisitions Category:American subsidiaries of foreign companies Category: Companies formerly listed on the Nasdaq