Irish cream liqueur company will overcome challenges of Trump tariffs
Coole Swan holds 1% of the Irish cream liqueur market in the US and will be harshly affected by the new tariffs
Coole Swan, the premium Irish cream liqueur exports up to 70% of its product, with over 40% of those sales being in the USA, where the brand holds 1% of the Irish cream category*.
Despite these numbers, CEO, Mary Sadlier, is taking the possibility of Trump’s new tariffs on imports into the US, in her stride.
According to Sadlier, “These tariffs are going to happen. And yes, it’s going to have a massive impact on our business, but we’ll make it work. We’ve prepared as much as we can, already shipping additional stock to our warehouse in the US, to do our best to get it into market before the tariffs hit.
“We love working with the Americans and will do everything we can to maintain that relationship. Our product is successful there because Americans love quality but sadly, it’s going to be the end consumer over the pond who ends up footing the bill. During the last Trump administration, the price of Coole Swan in the states increased by approximately seven dollars per bottle on a 25% tariff, on 200%, we could see a price increase of as much as 30 dollars per bottle, so it’s a scary time.
“It’s taken us ten years to be an overnight success in the US, so as tricky as this is, we won’t be abandoning ship in the eye of the storm. I feel passionate that this is the best liquid to ever come out of Ireland and I know that I’ll see it on spirits shelves in bars and supermarkets worldwide. No-one is going to stop that from happening. We will navigate this situation with determination and patience.”
Coole Swan is a premium blend of Irish whiskey, fresh Irish cream and Belgian white chocolate. It is produced in a purpose-built creamery in Co. Meath. In Ireland, Coole Swan’s sales increased by 55% in 2024.
*Nielsen 2024
