East Imperial PLC (LSE:EISB), the global purveyor of super-premium beverages, secured significant Tier-1 and Tier-2 on-premise account wins in New Zealand during November and December, alongside progress in recent margin-improvement initiatives, according to a Wednesday trading update.
During the fourth quarter, East Imperial successfully acquired prominent on-premise accounts spearheaded by the new Ayrburn precinct in Arrowtown, South Island.
Ayrburn is an expansive, historic piece of land set against a mountainous backdrop which is poised to be an exciting new dining destination, with various fine dining restaurants, a cellar door, and themed luxury bars.
East Imperial was chosen as the premium mixer partner across the site following a competitive pitch process.
East Imperial also gained a presence in two new luxury five-star hotels during the period.
Having commenced on 13 December, the Pullman Hotel at Auckland Airport features East Imperial as its exclusive mixer provider, which is due to be followed by the planned January 2024 opening of the InterContinental in downtown Auckland.
Overall, East Imperial noted a strong on-channel rebound in October and November, with “positive momentum” into December and the new year.
The company's margin-improvement programme, implemented at the half-year mark, has started to deliver significant margin improvement as the company heads towards a 35% target, in line with guidance.
Some margin-improvement initiatives include price increases and ongoing supply chain changes that see less reliance on third-party logistics providers.