Overarching Theme is "Being Responsible in Everything We Do"
Published 08-28-09
Submitted by Brown-Forman Corporation
Brown-Forman announced today the publication of its second corporate responsibility report, consisting of a thorough online report and a 26-page printed document that together articulate the company's corporate responsibility strategy and provide data summarizing its social and environmental performance over the last few years.
The printed document, entitled "On Being Responsible - Our Thinking About Drinking," outlines Brown-Forman's five pillars upon which the company's responsible drinking strategy is built:
The full online report, accessible at www.brown-forman.com/responsibility, further describes some of the initiatives the company has taken, including using the power of its well-known consumer brands to encourage positive social change, continuing to seek ways to reduce its environmental impact, and advancing its diversity programs in an increasingly global business.
In an introduction to the printed report, Brown-Forman Chief Executive Officer Paul Varga states, "Two years ago (when we launched our first report), we decided to take a more open-ended approach to communicate better and to motivate ourselves and others to act with a heightened sense of responsibility"¦.Much of our work and new ideas related to responsibility are reflected in this 2009 report, which captures our ambitions to promote responsible drinking and combat the abuse of beverage alcohol. To achieve greater success, we have embarked on a more assertive path: to further educate our employees about alcohol responsibility; engage our stakeholders on the issues; and use our strong consumer brands to bring about positive change."
Brown-Forman's 2009-2010 Corporate Responsibility Report highlights the company's efforts to promote responsible drinking and combat alcohol abuse, including the recent launch of the www.ourthinkingaboutdrinking.com Web site where critical alcohol issues can be explored in greater depth and comments and opinions are invited. The report also addresses the company's environmental, employee, and civic responsibility initiatives.
The report also acknowledges the company's challenges, pointing out that it has not yet established a greenhouse gas reduction target and describing in detail a Southern Comfort television advertisement that was withdrawn from broadcast in the U.K. after receiving public complaints.
"We are pleased with our progress thus far," said Varga, "but given our nearly 140-year history as company, we understand that being responsible in everything we do is an ongoing process that has no end."
Brown-Forman Corporation is a producer and marketer of fine quality beverage alcohol brands, including Jack Daniel's, Southern Comfort, Finlandia, Canadian Mist, Fetzer, Korbel, Gentleman Jack, el Jimador, Tequila Herradura, Sonoma-Cutrer, Chambord, Tuaca, Woodford Reserve, and Bonterra.
Important Information on Forward-Looking Statements:
This report contains statements, estimates, and projections that are "forward-looking statements" as defined under U.S. federal securities laws. Words such as "expect," "believe," "intend," "estimate," "will," "may," "anticipate," "project," and similar words identify forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date we make them. Except as required by law, we do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors (many beyond our control) that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our historical experience or from our current expectations or projections. These risks and other factors include, but are not limited to:
Brown-Forman Corporation is a diversified producer and marketer of fine quality consumer products, including Jack Daniel's, Southern Comfort, Finlandia Vodka, Canadian Mist, Fetzer and Bolla Wines, and Korbel California Champagnes.
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