Purchase, N.Y., January 2008 -- Kobrand Corporation, a family-owned wine and spirits company whose name is synonymous with quality, announced today that it has strategically split its luxury driven wine and spirits portfolio into two separate sales and marketing companies – Kobrand Wines and Kobrand Spirits. The change is designed to enhance the focus, attention and core strengths of their already highly regarded wine and spirits portfolio by addressing the needs that are unique to each of the categories.

“Our industry is continually confronted with seemingly endless consolidations and newly formed alliances at the supplier level and as a result many producer/brand owners in the U.S. market feel that they have been relegated to a secondary position. This ‘one size fits all’ approach simply does not appropriately serve the needs of so many brands, and often discourages new brand initiatives. We believe that this bold move of dividing our company will make a positive statement, reassuring long-time industry partners of Kobrand Corporation’s full commitment to apply a singular focus to their brands, and more importantly, that their brands will enjoy priority status in this increasingly over-crowded marketplace” said Charles Palombini, president and chief executive officer of Kobrand Corporation.

The new Kobrand Spirits division will be presided over by Tom Congdon, vice president and director of spirits. “We are excited to be able to offer our portfolio of spirit brands this unique opportunity to be a part of this new chapter in Kobrand Corporation’s distinguished sixty-four year history. To launch this new endeavor, we have put together a team of 35 unbelievably talented sales and marketing people that will operate independently from the wine team.”

The newly formed spirits division is anchored by Alizé, a 500,000 case Global brand that is an explosive blend of premium French cognac, exotic passion fruit and fine French vodka that created the category. Other brands that currently round out this luxury driven portfolio are: Delamain Grand Champagne Cognac, whose portfolio of masterfully aged cognacs is well known for both age and style credentials; Depaz Blue Cane Amber Rhum, an estate distilled A.O.C. designated Rhum Agricole made exclusively from blue cane born at the Château Depaz Estate in St. Pierre, Martinique; Café Bohême, a unique blend of Coffee, crème from Holland, French Vodka, with a hint of vanilla, and Larressingle Armagnac, one of Armagnac's most important marques and one of the very few firms still privately and solely owned by the founding family.

Kobrand Corporation was founded in 1944 and to this day remains one of the few family-owned wine and spirits companies. Kobrand's portfolio of wine and spirits was meticulously selected according to a single, unerring principle: quality. This continued focus has made the Kobrand name synonymous with wines and spirits of the highest caliber for 60 years. Kobrand is the exclusive agent for an outstanding selection of fine wines and spirits that include Maison Louis Jadot Burgundies, St. Francis, Sequoia Grove, Cakebread Cellars, Sassicaia, The Fladgate Partnership of Ports, Alizé, Depaz Blue Cane Amber Rhum, Café Bohême and Delamain Cognacs.

For additional information please contact Tom Congdon of Kobrand Spirits at 914-253-7700