Lark Distillery Explained

Lark Distilling Co. Ltd
Former Name:Australian Whisky Holdings
Type:Public
Key People:Satya Sharma (CEO)

Lark Distilling Co. Ltd is a producer of Australian whisky and liqueurs in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.[1] [2]

History

Lark Distillery was founded in 1992 by Bill and Lyn Lark.[3] The couple sold the business in June 2013, retaining a 25% stake.[4] In January 2014, Lark Distillery acquired Old Hobart Distillery, owner of the Overeem whisky brand.[5] Montec International Limited, a private equity company listed on the ASX in 2003, was primarily focused on the marketing and licensing of dairy technology. Montec entered the whisky business in February 2014 when it acquired a 32% stake in Lark Distillery.[6] In late 2015, Montec changed its name to Australian Whisky Holdings Limited (AWH).[7]

In March 2016, AWH purchased a 12% stake in Redlands Estate Distillery.[8] In March 2019, activist investor Bruce Neill set in motion events which resulted in the entire board's resignation or voting off and the resignation of Brendan Waights, the company's acting chief executive and chief financial officer.[9] Lark Distillery Single Malt Whiskey won a Gold Medal at the 2019 London Spirits Competition.[10]

Australian Whisky Holdings was renamed Lark Distilling Co. in May 2020.[11] The following month, Lark completed the sale of the Overeem business to Sawford Distillery.[12] Lark Distillery became the first distillery in Australia to become carbon neutral in April 2021.[13] [14] In October 2021, Lark Distilling announced it would acquire Kernke Family Shene Estate, owner of the Pontville Distillery and Estate.[15] In February 2022, CEO Geoff Bainbridge resigned after a video of him purportedly smoking methamphetamine was published.[16] Laura McBain took over as interim CEO until the appointment of Satya Sharma in May 2023.[17] [18]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 11 March 2020 . Why The Most Exciting Whisky Right Now Is Coming From Tasmania . 12 April 2020 . GQ . en.
  2. Web site: 25 November 2019 . AWH plans to make Lark Whisky what 'Penfolds is to Australian wine' . 12 April 2020 . The Shout . en-AU.
  3. Web site: Allen . Max . 28 January 2021 . At Lark, the whisky sets the agenda, even if the timing’s awkward . subscription . 31 July 2024 . Australian Financial Review . en.
  4. Web site: McCarthy . Luke . 23 August 2022 . On Lark: The untold story of Tasmania's foundational whisky brand . 1 August 2024 . Oz Whisky Review . en-US.
  5. Web site: Paskin . Becky . 14 January 2014 . Australia's Overeem whisky sold to Lark Distillery . 1 August 2024 . The Spirits Business . en-US.
  6. Web site: March 2018 . Business Update March 2018 . 1 August 2024.
  7. Web site: 30 November 2015 . Annual General Meeting Held on 30 November 2015 . 1 August 2024 . Montec International Limited.
  8. Web site: Young . Andy . 18 March 2016 . Australian Whisky Holdings acquires equity in Redlands Estate Distillery . 1 August 2024 . The Shout . en-US.
  9. Web site: Battersby . Lucy . Sakkal . Paul . 24 May 2019 . Nothing neat about whisky brawl that put board on the rocks . 1 August 2024 . The Sydney Morning Herald . en.
  10. Web site: Competition Results . 19 June 2021 . londonspiritscompetition.com . en.
  11. Web site: Atkinson . James . 1 May 2020 . Lark Distilling Co starts new era for Tasmanian whisky on ASX . 1 August 2024 . Drinks Adventures Podcast . en-US.
  12. Web site: McCarthy . Luke . 8 July 2020 . Overeem Whisky relaunches under family ownership . 1 August 2024 . Oz Whisky Review . en-US.
  13. Web site: Lark Distilling Co. | Climate Active .
  14. Web site: 11 May 2021 . Tasmania's Lark Distilling Co. Is the first certified carbon neutral distillery in Australia .
  15. Web site: Kiely . Melita . 19 October 2021 . Lark Distilling buys Pontville owner for AU$40m . 1 August 2024 . The Spirits Business . en-US.
  16. News: Knaus . Christopher . 16 February 2022 . Grill’d co-founder Geoff Bainbridge quits Lark Distilling board over alleged drug use video . 31 July 2024 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  17. Web site: Doherty . Ioni . 16 February 2022 . Lark Distilling CEO steps down after video emerges. Laura McBain to replace Geoff Bainbridge whose resignation is effective immediately. . 1 August 2024 . Drinks Trade . en-US.
  18. Web site: Atkinson . James . 3 November 2022 . Satya Sharma appointed Lark Distilling CEO . 31 July 2024 . Drinks Adventures Podcast . en-US.

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