The Pernod Ricard company is to make a very generous donation of Y.60m ($734,235) to the Red Cross Japan (RCJ) Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Effort, with Pernod Ricard Japan contributing Y.10m ($122,373) and Pernod Ricard Holding and Pernod Ricard Asia contributing Y.25m ($305,908) each.

The company said: “Red Cross Japan is at the frontline of the relief effort and has dispatched staff to the most severely damaged areas of the country. Working with local volunteers, Red Cross Japan is handing out essential supplies, including more than 120,000 blankets. 

“In addition, over 400 emergency medical response units with more than 1,000 staff are helping people in the worst affected areas of Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima. Trained nurses with the Japanese Red Cross are also offering support to traumatized survivors.”

‘DEMONSTRATION OF SUPPORT’
Commenting on the decision to make this donation, Fabrice Audan, President and Ceo of Pernod Ricard Japan said: “There are hundreds of thousands of people who have been affected by the earthquake and tsunami in North East Japan and the devastation resulting from this monumental disaster.

“We have been operating in Japan for more than twenty years and we wish to demonstrate our support to all the people who have suffered as a result of these natural disasters. We are grateful that our employees in the Sendai region are unharmed. As a global player in the wines and spirits, it is our responsibility to give back in times of crisis and we hope this contribution will help relief efforts in the months to follow”.

Pierre Coppéré, Chairman and Ceo of Pernod Ricard Asia, adds: “I would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to Pernod Ricard Japan’s staff for their commitment in these very difficult circumstances. I wish to thank them for their outstanding dedication”.