M. Akkerman Ltd. was founded in the northern city Haifa by Menachem Akkerman as a wine and spirit store. Rather quickly, it became the leading wholesaler in Israel’s Northern region, supplying locally produced and imported alcoholic beverage products.
1962
1966
The company began marketing and supplying gift packages for the holidays, including wines and spirits, to workers of some of the leading companies in the Israeli economy at the time.
1970
M. Akkerman Ltd. Started independently importing international brands directly; between them: Cutty Sark whisky and various French wines.
1972
M. Akkerman Ltd. acquired 50% of the well-established importing company A. Kapon; adding to its portfolio leading brands such as Courvoisier Cognac, Grand Marnier Liqueur and Drambuie alongside international chocolate brands.
1973
The company began importing three Dutch beer brands thus becoming the first importer in Israel to offer beer in 500 ml cans.
1990
M. Akkerman Ltd. continued its expansion, growing its product portfolio with wine and brandy from the Israeli producer Barkan Wineries, and additional international brands such as Ballantine’s Whisky, Laphroaig Whisky and others.
1994
M. Akkerman Ltd. received the distribution license for vodka Finlandia; which changed the face of the Israeli market and become, under the management of M. Akkerman Ltd., the largest (in volume) alcoholic beverage in Israel.
2001
The largest American whiskey conglomerate, Brown-Forman, acquired the Finlandia vodka brand.
2002
Brown-Forman passed the franchises to its brands: Jack Daniel’s and Southern Comfort to the hands of M. Akkerman Ltd. in view of its success marketing Finlandia vodka.
2003
As a strategic decision, after identifying potential for a new category of super premium vodka, M. Akkerman Ltd. started importing Grey Goose vodka; internationally unfamiliar brand in those years.
2004
M. Akkerman Ltd. launched a new larger logistic distribution center in Poleg Industrial Park in Netanya; including marketing and sales divisios.
2005
Bacardi, one of the largest and leading spirits corporations in the world, purchased the Grey Goose brand. As a result of the acquisition, the concern chose to grant the distribution rights of other brands in its possession to M. Akkerman Ltd. The brands that were added were Bacardi rum, gin Bombay Sapphire and Dewar’s whiskey.
2007
Esti and Miki, have been appointed joint CEOs and are still in office.
2010
Bacardi corporation trusted the rights to the Martini brand in the hands of the company. Thus, M. Akkerman Ltd. completed the corporation portfolio. On the same year, M. Akkerman Ltd. also began importing the prestigious champagne Laurent Perrier.
2012
A new logistic distribution center was established in the southern city Eilat.
2014
M. Akkerman Ltd. has signed a distribution and marketing agreement with the Edrington corporation; further expanding its portfolio with brands such as The Macallan, Highland Park and Famous Grouse.
2015
The product range of M. Akkerman Ltd. has grown to include wines from different regions of the world.
2016
M. Akkerman started importing various wine brands from Treasury Wine Estate, one of the world’s leading wine companies. In addition to the leading French wine brand in Provence, Minuty.
2017
World’s largest producer of cocktails liquors, the Dutch brand De Kuyper, joined Akkerman family of brands. In addition, BV, Sterling and Beringer vineyards from Napa Valley, USA were added to the company’s wine portfolio.
2018
Tequila Patron, considered by many to be the best in the world, is acquired by the international spirit corporation Bacardi Limited and added to the Akkerman company portfolio.
At the same year, another global corporation joined the Akkerman variety – Gruppo Montenegro and its brands such as Vecchia Romagna, Amaro Montenegro etc.
2019
The company’s owners are recognized as Keepers of the Quaich; An exclusive and international society that recognises those that have shown outstanding commitment to the Scotch Whisky industry. In addition, Akkerman expanded the wine portfolio with one of the world’s most prestigious vineyards – the Australian Penfolds winery.