🥃 Campari Group

If you have ordered an Aperol Spritz or a Negroni, you have met the brands of Campari Group, an Italian spirits group headquartered in Sesto San Giovanni near Milan. It traces its founding to 1860, when Gaspare Campari invented the red aperitif, and today owns more than 50 brands sold in over 190 markets. The group calls itself the undisputed leader of the aperitif category. ³

From one brand to many. From 1888 Davide Campari built the brand worldwide, created the first single-serve aperitif, Campari Soda, in 1932 and supported artists; by the 1960s the brand was distributed in more than 80 countries. ³ The group says it was still a single-brand company in 1995 and has since made about 40 acquisitions and sold more than 15 brands. ³

Headquarters with a history. The site in Sesto San Giovanni has served Campari since 1904, when production moved there from Milan; today it is the group's headquarters. ⁴ Shares of the parent company, Davide Campari-Milano N.V., have been listed on Borsa Italiana in Milan since 2001. ³

Four Brand Houses. The House of Aperitivi includes Aperol, Campari, Crodino, Picon, Cynar and Campari Soda; Whiskey & Rum includes Wild Turkey, Russell's Reserve, The Glen Grant, Appleton Estate and Wray & Nephew; Agave includes Espolòn, Montelobos and Ancho Reyes; Cognac & Champagne includes Courvoisier, Grand Marnier and Lallier. ³

Figures. In 2025 net sales reached 3,051 million euros, against 1,657 million in 2015. The group employs about 4,800 people, has 21 plants in ten countries and its own sales companies in 27 countries, which bring about 91% of revenue. Europe gives 45% of sales and North America 37%, with the United States alone at 28%. ³

Aperitifs first. The House of Aperitivi makes 44% of sales: the Aperol franchise 26%, Campari 11%, Crodino and other aperitifs 7%. ³ Aperol was created in 1919 by the brothers Luigi and Silvio Barbieri and joined the group later; its Spritz recipe dates from the 1950s. ⁵ The IBA Spritz is 90 ml of Prosecco, 60 ml of Aperol and a splash of soda, and versions with Campari or Cynar are allowed. ⁷

Where the aperitifs are made. In 2024 the group doubled Aperol capacity at its Novi Ligure plant in Piedmont, which also makes Campari, Campari Soda, Crodino and Cinzano. ⁶ In the Drinks International 2026 ranking of classic cocktails the group counts four of its own: the Negroni 1st, the Aperol Spritz 7th, the Americano 15th and the Boulevardier 18th. ³

Courvoisier. On 30 April 2024 the group completed the purchase of 100% of Beam Holdings France, owner of the Courvoisier cognac brand, from Beam Suntory; the agreement had been signed on 26 February 2024. ¹ Today Courvoisier sits in the House of Cognac & Champagne. ³

Why it matters to you. The group's name in the small print on a back label tells you who owns the brand, not what is in the bottle: an 11% aperitif and a cognac can share an owner. ³⁵ Look for the legal name and strength on the label. WHO stresses that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption. ²