Brandtree

Who owns Absolut?

Absolut is owned by Pernod Ricard (France, EPA: RI), which acquired the brand on 23 July 2008.[1][2] Absolut was founded in 1879 in Åhus and was independent until 2008.

This ownership is reported in official statements but has not yet been matched to a regulatory filing.

Key facts

Current owner
Pernod Ricard SA reported
Owned since
· deal details
Acquisition price
€5.63 billion (enterprise value)
Previous owner
Independent (1879–2008)
Owner HQ
🇫🇷 France, Paris
Origin
🇸🇪 Sweden, Åhus
Founded
1879
Category
Beverages › Spirits › Vodka
Parent ticker
EPA: RI
Last verified
· 2 sources

About Absolut

Absolut vodka has been distilled in Åhus, southern Sweden since 1879, using winter wheat grown nearby and a continuous distillation method developed by Lars Olsson Smith. Its advertising campaign, running from 1980 and built entirely on the bottle silhouette, produced more than a thousand distinct executions. Pernod Ricard bought it in 2008 for €5.6 billion.

Ownership timeline of Absolut

Owners of Absolut from 2008 to 2026 Pernod Ricard 2008–present Pernod Ricard 2010201520202025
  1. 2008 – present Pernod Ricard — acquired 23 July 2008 [1][2] reported

Where Absolut sits in Pernod Ricard

Controlling ownership as of . Brands grouped under the entity that owns them; large groups are collapsed.

Where Absolut sits in Pernod Ricard Tree of 11 brands under Pernod Ricard. Pernod Ricard Absolut Beefeater Chivas Regal G.H. Mumm Havana Club Jameson and 5 more

Open the full Pernod Ricard ownership tree →

Other brands owned by Pernod Ricard in beverages

See the full Pernod Ricard brand portfolio (11) →

Deals involving Absolut

Acquisition closed

Pernod Ricard acquires Absolut

Pernod Ricard bought V&S Group, the Swedish state-owned owner of Absolut, for €5.626 billion in a privatisation auction. Absolut immediately became one of the group's largest brands and remains among the best-selling vodkas in the world.

Value
€5.63bn
Seller
—
Regulatory
None recorded

Latest news about Absolut

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Frequently asked questions

Who is the parent company of Absolut?

The parent company of Absolut is Pernod Ricard, a publicly listed company headquartered in France.

Is Absolut Swedish or French?

Absolut originated in Sweden in 1879, but it is owned today by Pernod Ricard, which is headquartered in France. So Absolut is a Swedish-origin brand under French ownership.

When did Pernod Ricard buy Absolut?

Pernod Ricard completed its acquisition of Absolut on 23 July 2008, after announcing the deal on 31 March 2008.

Who owned Absolut before Pernod Ricard?

Absolut was an independent company from its founding in 1879 in Åhus until Pernod Ricard acquired it in 2008.

Is Absolut still owned by Pernod Ricard?

Yes. As of 8 September 2026, Absolut is still owned by Pernod Ricard. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.

Sources (2) & corrections

Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.

  1. [1] Pernod Ricard Universal Registration Document 2024/25 — Pernod Ricard SA, Annual report, published 1 October 2025; retrieved 8 September 2026.
  2. [2] Pernod Ricard completes the acquisition of V&S Group — Pernod Ricard SA, Official press release, published 23 July 2008; retrieved 8 September 2026.

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