Brown–Forman

Brown-Forman Corporation stands as one of the largest American-owned companies in the spirits and wine industry, with a remarkable 155-year heritage of craftsmanship and innovation. Founded in 1870 in Louisville, Kentucky, by pharmaceutical salesman George Garvin Brown and his accountant partner George Forman, the company revolutionized the bourbon industry by being the first to sell whiskey exclusively in sealed glass bottles, providing quality assurance and consumer protection long before the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. This pioneering spirit and commitment to quality has remained at the core of Brown-Forman's identity as it evolved from a local bourbon producer into a global spirits powerhouse generating $4.2 billion in net sales for fiscal 2024.

The company's portfolio is anchored by Jack Daniel's, the world's best-selling American whiskey and one of the most recognized spirits brands globally, which Brown-Forman acquired in 1956. Beyond Jack Daniel's family of products (including Tennessee Honey, Tennessee Fire, Tennessee Apple, Gentleman Jack, and Single Barrel variants), the portfolio encompasses premium bourbon brands Woodford Reserve and Old Forester (the company's original 1870 founding brand still in production today), super-premium tequilas Herradura and el Jimador, Scotch whiskies GlenDronach, Benriach, and Glenglassaugh, plus Slane Irish whiskey, Fords Gin, Gin Mare, Chambord liqueur, Diplomático Rum, Korbel and Sonoma-Cutrer wines, and Jack Daniel's Ready-to-Drinks. This diverse portfolio serves consumers across multiple price points and occasions in more than 170 countries worldwide.

What distinguishes Brown-Forman in the competitive global spirits industry is its unique structure as a publicly-traded family-controlled company. Approximately 40 members of the Brown family, descendants of founder George Garvin Brown, control more than 70% of the voting shares, enabling long-term strategic thinking unconstrained by quarterly pressures. The company trades on the New York Stock Exchange with two classes of stock (BF.A and BF.B) and maintains a market capitalization of approximately $13-14 billion. This family stewardship has fostered a culture emphasizing integrity, respect, trust, teamwork, and excellence that guides all interactions with consumers, employees, and business partners, while enabling Brown-Forman to take measured risks and invest in brand-building over extended time horizons.

Brown-Forman's commitment extends beyond financial performance to environmental sustainability and corporate responsibility. The company established a 2030 Sustainability Strategy aligned with UN climate goals, focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, making all primary packaging recyclable or reusable by 2030, and implementing renewable energy solutions like the solar partnership at the Jack Daniel's distillery that covers nearly three-quarters of electricity needs. For the third consecutive year in 2024, Brown-Forman was named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere, recognizing its culture of ethics and governance practices. Supported by approximately 5,600 employees globally who contributed 18,500 volunteer hours in fiscal 2024, Brown-Forman continues building on its founder's legacy of innovation and integrity while navigating contemporary challenges including trade tensions, distribution evolution, and shifting consumer preferences toward premium spirits and ready-to-drink formats. With 41 consecutive years of dividend increases, Brown-Forman demonstrates its commitment to delivering long-term shareholder value while remaining true to the values established when George Garvin Brown first sealed bourbon in bottles over 150 years ago.