FrieslandCampina Partners with GM Marketing to Grow Brands in Ireland

Belfast based, brand-building distributor, GM Marketing, today announced their successful appointment as distribution partner of FrieslandCampina, following a competitive pitch process.

The agreement between GM Marketing and FrieslandCampina, the fifth largest Dairy company in the world, sees the exclusive contract for the distribution of their brands including YAZOO, the iconic flavoured milk drink across key channels on the island of Ireland being awarded to GM Marketing, in a move that is designed to drive growth and customer penetration.
 
The announcement marks GM Marketing’s first move into the Dairy category and comes on the back of a high-growth period for the Belfast based business, who have recently increased their headcount by +20% to support the rapidly growing business, driven through year-on-year growth and acquisitions.  

Commenting on the news, FrieslandCampina’s UK Managing Director, Will Jones said, “YAZOO is an integral part of the FrieslandCampina business, and so the process to appoint a new brand-partner for Ireland was a business-critical decision.  We had shortlisted three distributors who each had their own unique strengths.  We chose GM Marketing for the quality and passion of their work, the innovative ideas they came forward with in the pitch process, and the knowledge and enthusiasm of their people.”

The deal will also see the launch and expansion of additional FrieslandCampina brands in Ireland, including indulgent chocolate milk brand, Chocomel and chilled coffee brand, Barista.

The Managing Director of GM Marketing, Gerard McAdorey said, “We’re very proud to announce our partnership with FrieslandCampina.  We’ve over twenty-one years’ experience of building brands in Ireland and are delighted to now welcome FrieslandCampina into our brand portfolio, with the ongoing support for YAZOO, alongside Barista and Chocomel which are riding high on the consumer trends of indulgence and chilled coffee, creating fantastic category opportunities for Irish retailers.”