British firm back again

By DANIEL RIORDAN

Montana's would-be owner, Britain's Allied Domecq, is not a stranger to New Zealand. The company was a shareholder with Lion Nathan in national liquor distributor New Zealand Wines and Spirits until it sold its stake to Lion 18 months ago.

More recently, Australian media has reported the company is interested in buying Australian wine giant Southcorp.

Allied Domecq claims to be the world's second largest spirits company, behind fellow British company Diageo. It is also a wine producer and fast-food provider.

Its brands include Ballantyne's scotch, Beefeater gin, Kahlua and Tia Maria liqueurs, Sauza tequila, Courvoisier cognac, Dunkin' Donuts, Baskin-Robbins ice cream and Togo's sandwiches.

Allied Domecq employs 10,000 staff worldwide, is listed on the London Stock Exchange and made a trading profit of £487 million ($1.6 billion) in the year to August 2000 on revenue of £2.6 billion ($8.55 billion).