Further to the recent announcement from the West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers’ Association Inc. (WIRSPA) that the Authentic Caribbean Rum Marque is to be developed to international status, they have announced that several new brands have been accredited to carry the prestigious symbol.
At a recent meeting of the regional trade association in Barbados, certificates were awarded to 15 companies covering almost 50 individual products.
WIRSPA chairman Dr Frank Ward said: “I am delighted that so many companies have now qualified to use the Authentic Caribbean Rum Marque and I look forward to seeing our remaining members reach the standards required to qualify.
“Certification recognizes both the excellence of the rums and the achievement by companies of the required standards. This will help them develop their brands in international markets and allow them to capitalize on the True Rum Campaign as we promote the ACR Marque in new countries.”
Despite the well-publiczed problems affecting world markets, rum continues to do well internationally. As a category it continues to grow and a number of new brands have been successfully introduced to the premium end of the market. Recent shows in Moscow, Berlin, London and Paris have seen strong interest from both trade customers and consumers, and WIRSPA hopes to capitalize on this sustained interest when extending their campaign into new territories.
The growth and international expansion of the ACR Marque coincides with actions to make rum production in the Caribbean not only more competitive but also more environmentally friendly.
In recent years some 30 environmental projects have been undertaken by 23 companies and investments in waste disposal, environmental management and energy conservation have enabled companies to respond to increasing regulatory requirements and the high cost of energy.
Significant investments included two bio-methanation plants that convert waste into renewable energy, six cogeneration plants which allow the dual use of steam to produce both heat and electricity, two systems that utilize sugar cane waste to generate heat and power, and other waste-disposal system improvements. (PR)
