DAFFY’S gin, which is distilled and bottled at Broxburn in West Lothian, has won a deal to supply all 234 of supermarket chain Waitrose’s UK stores.
The gin company, which has its head office in Edinburgh, was launched in December 2014 by owners Chris Molyneaux and his wife Mignonne Khazaka. Mr Molyneaux trained as a distiller and worked on spirits production in a raft of countries, including Canada, Australia, and China, before starting Daffy’s. Ms Khazaka is a lawyer, and her family owns vineyards in Lebanon in which the mint used in Daffy’s gin is planted.
A spokeswoman for Daffy’s noted that the listing with the upmarket Waitrose was the Edinburgh company’s first supermarket supply deal. Mr Molyneaux declared that a UK-wide listing with Waitrose had been a “key ambition”.
Daffy’s already supplies a range of independent stockists as well as upmarket department store groups Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, and Harrods.
It declined to put a value on the deal with Waitrose.
Mr Molyneaux said: “Since launching Daffy’s, we’ve worked hard to secure the right listings in discerning independents and quality stores. Achieving a national supermarket listing with Waitrose was a key ambition for the brand and we’re thrilled to be working with the company.
“Waitrose will be the first time that many new customers are introduced to the product, and we cannot wait to hear their response.”
The founders of Daffy’s highlight the fact that they have sourced the botanicals used in the gin’s production from around the globe. These include juniper from Balkan countries, lemon peel from southern Spain and the Lebanese mint, which the founders say creates the soft creamy, toffee notes.
Herchelle Perez-Terrado, spirits buyer at Waitrose, said: “We’re always on the lookout for drinks from producers who are clearly passionate about their brand, devoted to their craft, determined to use the finest ingredients and driven to make something that’s unique. Chris and Mignonne of Daffy’s typify that approach, and we’re pleased to be able to bring their delicious gin to our customers across the UK.”
The artwork for the Daffy’s gin bottle was created by Robert McGinnis. Daffy’s noted that Mr McGinnis created Breakfast at Tiffany’s and James Bond artwork in the 1960s and 1970s.
Daffy’s noted that Ms Khazaka was the muse for the illustration on the bottle.
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