Quality

The quality of Pernod Ricard’s products and the prestige of its brands are the result of its unique heritage and expertise. Remaining true to this tradition, the Group constantly monitors its quality control. Quality control represents the first commitment in Pernod Ricard’s Sustainable Development Charter.

STRICT QUALITY CONTROL AND FAULTLESS PRODUCTS

Each subsidiary is responsible for the quality of the products it produces. Subsidiaries possess product monitoring and inspection tools for the different stages of the production process. 

Each Pernod Ricard production centre is equipped with a quality control laboratory. The Group conducts both physical-chemical and sensory analyses of every product. The quality control laboratories perform tests that include parameters such as alcohol level, sugar content, flavour compounds, tannins and fatty acids. Ultimately, they ensure that each product adheres to its requirements.

The Group is recognised for its expertise in sensory analysis. It has developed in-depth organoleptic assessment methods. Products are tasted, described, characterised and monitored over time by expert tasters and employee panels. The Pernod Ricard Research Centre (CRPR) helps the subsidiaries set up these panels.

Indeed, the CRPR is associated with the quality control process. In particular, it aims to guarantee product consistency over time. To do so, it employs a systematic quality control procedure for the key brands. It validates any change in their production formulas.


IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Special attention paid to packaging

Since packaging is the consumer’s first contact with a product, it is subject to daily quality control. The packaging of each product is designed by marketing and sales teams with the aim to meet consumers’ expectations. It is then inspected at each delivery. Significant resources are employed to guarantee complete customer satisfaction, including defect research and tracking, and audits and improvements to services provided by suppliers.

GROUP QUALITY CONTROL CERTIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT

Certified quality control systems

Pernod Ricard has implemented a voluntary strategy for ongoing quality improvement and management. It is coordinated by the Quality-Safety-Environment Department.

Today, 93% of all products sold by the Group come from ISO 9001 certified production centres. At the end of June 2008, 87 of the 102 centres met the requirements specified by the ISO 9001 quality control management standards.

The ISO 9001 standards are an essential method of certifying the quality objectives met by the Group. Each year, the Group is subject to an external audit conducted by an approved authority. Each site takes measures to improve its existing procedures based on the conclusions of the audit.

Quality management and optimisation tools

Specific tools have been implemented to allow subsidiaries to monitor and control the quality of their products. These tools are used during the distribution phases. 

For example, the subsidiaries have access to a computer system, which records quality-related complaints. It allows the regional distribution networks to instantaneously transmit all complaints to the Group’s production subsidiaries, which can then take corrective measures if necessary. Thanks to this tool, Pernod Ricard has an instant, complete and global overview of the quality of its products.

An annual quality control audit is also conducted for each of the Group’s 15 key brands. It is carried out directly at points of sale and in the primary countries where the brands are sold. The audits reflect the level of quality as perceived by consumers. In 2008, 11,000 samples were studied in 170 shops in the USA and Europe.