Anger has been brewing in the Phocaean city since the Pernod Ricard group announced a long-term partnership agreement with Paris Saint-Germain, the historic rival of OM, its sworn enemy. A four-year agreement “which will begin in the 2024-2025 season and will cover PSG’s professional teams”. The people of Marseille swallowed their pastis the wrong way yesterday, and the aniseed drink certainly doesn’t taste quite the same on the terrace since a few hours ago and the publication of this news which has provoked anger and astonishment in Provence.
“My life is falling apart”
One of the most emblematic groups in the region, headquartered in Marseille, teaming up with the capital’s football club by becoming its sole supplier of champagne and spirits, thereby abandoning all ties with the flagship club of the Phocaean city (editor’s note: Pernod Ricard has no partnership with OM)? An unforgivable mistake for a number of Marseillais who were disgusted by the news. Internet users even teamed up to write and compose a song in a few hours that reflects the state of mind in the region quite well.
Others have already launched a hashtag #boycottPernodRicard that has gone viral on the web, for example by offering pastis lovers other brands that could replace Pernod Ricard. “It’s a stab in the back, nothing more, nothing less,” fumes a Marseille resident on X (ex-Twitter). “My life is falling apart. My fusional relationship (sic) with this drink ends here,” another on the same social network collapses.
“This new global partnership is the first of its kind for Pernod Ricard, which will showcase the Group’s entire premium brand catalogue,” the world’s No. 2 spirits company said in a statement. “Pernod Ricard now becomes an official global partner and will be the club’s sole supplier of champagne and spirits, with dedicated visibility and communication rights as well as tailor-made experiences.”
- RMC Sport
