MGP Ingredients to become Sempreon as Kansas group unifies businesses

What happened

Kansas-based MGP Ingredients will change its corporate name to Sempreon on 2 November 2026, putting its three business divisions under a single identity. The third-party spirits producer, which owns American whiskey maker Luxco, will also adopt CASK as its Nasdaq ticker symbol.

MGP said the change reflects the development of a group whose operations now extend beyond distilling into branded spirits and food ingredients. The announcement comes after a second quarter in which total sales declined 15% and sales at its Distilling Solutions division fell 42%.

The background

The group traces its origins to a single distillery in 1941. Its present structure serves both consumer brands and business customers through Branded Spirits, Distilling Solutions and Ingredient Solutions.

Branded Spirits includes Penelope, Yellowstone and Rebel Bourbons. Distilling Solutions handles bulk spirit supply, customer-specific mash bills and barrel maturation services, while Ingredient Solutions supplies products including wheat proteins, starches and dietary fibres.

Lower demand prompted MGP to suspend production at Kentucky's Limestone Branch and Lux Row Distillers in May. Those operational pauses preceded the latest corporate identity announcement.

Performance within the branded portfolio was stronger than the group's overall results. Premium-plus sales increased 5% in the second quarter, while Penelope Bourbon recorded 13% growth. The company also reported strong growth for Yellowstone Whiskey.

During the summer, MGP added former Pernod Ricard executives to its leadership team. It also introduced its first Bourbon carrying the MGP name, MGP Chapter One: Out of the Shadows, alongside a change of name for its Indiana operation to MGP Distillery.

What people are saying

President and chief executive Julie Francis said the new identity marked another stage in the company's development and brought its three businesses together. She said the strategy would continue to emphasise focus, disciplined delivery and accountability.

Chief marketing officer Matias Bentel said the group had grown beyond any one distillery, brand or product category. He said names such as MGP and Lux Row would continue to carry the company's heritage through its distilleries.

According to MGP, Sempreon combines Semper, the Latin word meaning always, with Aion, the Greek word meaning eternity. The company said the name was intended to connect its history with its continuing development.

What happens next

MGP is due to publish its third-quarter 2026 financial results on 28 October, ahead of the corporate name change.

Following its second-quarter results, the company identified rebuilding its aged whiskey pipeline, extending its premium white spirits business and increasing private-label programmes as areas of work. The rebrand announcement gives no timetable for restarting production at the two paused Kentucky distilleries.