Paul Rouget, Media365: published on Thursday September 5, 2024 at 3:09 p.m.
While it was supposed to become a partner of PSG, the Pernod Ricard group has finally given up. The calls for a boycott coming from Marseille must have played a role…
A decision “that comes from the heart”. After announcing on Monday that it was becoming a partner of PSG, the Pernod Ricard group decided to backtrack, while the announcement of this partnership had caused controversy in Marseille, where the Ricard brand, and in particular its pastis, is a real institution. Calls to boycott the world’s number two spirits company have even been launched, notably by OM supporters.
“I made this decision for the group and in consultation with those who make it successful, including our employees in France, our customers and our shareholders, first and foremost my family,” said Alexandre Ricard, the group’s CEO, in a press release. “For over 90 years, Ricard’s history has been intertwined with Marseille, which saw it born, grow and inspire it. And this link is stronger than anything. It is therefore a decision that comes from the heart that I am making today.”
The mayor of Marseille did not understand
Politicians also got involved, starting with the mayor of Marseille, Benoît Payan, who wanted “explanations” from Pernod Ricard and its president, whom he was due to meet. “I wasn’t happy to see that, frankly we didn’t really understand. There are a lot of things to tell him, first I’m going to ask him how and why we end up supporting PSG,” he confided to BFM Marseille. Should we see this as the fact that the people of Marseille are invading Paris and taking control of PSG? That’s the positive side. Or are there other intentions? I’ll ask him the question.”
Pernod Ricard was initially pleased to become “an official global partner” of the Ligue 1 leader, and “the club’s sole supplier of champagne and spirits.” A capital club that will have to find another partner.
