Chile's Concha y Toro, Diageo in distribution deal

SANTIAGO, March 17 (Reuters) - Chile's leading wine exporter, Concha y Toro CHT.SN, said on Tuesday its national delivery arm has a distribution pact with the local unit of global alcoholic drinks group Diageo Plc (DGE.L).

Under a memorandum of understanding, Concha y Toro's distribution subsidiary Comercial Peumo will take on the wholesale distribution of Diageo products like Johnnie Walker whisky and Smirnoff Vodka from April 1.

However, Diageo Chile will continue to handle the distribution of three major supermarket chains run by Cencosud CEN.SN, D&S DIS.SN and Unimarc, Concha y Toro said.

Comercial Peumo distributes the wines of Concha y Toro and its subsidiaries throughout Chile.

"In recent years, Comercial Peumo has developed a new area of business which includes the commercialization of beer and premium liquor," Concha y Toro said in a statement.

"It is precisely this new area of business which this distribution deal aims to reinforce," it added.