In early 2008, Luxury goods conglomerate Grand Metropolitan acquired The Sarasota Sun for an undisclosed price. The Beverly Hills based company added the publication to it's ever expanding list of global operations including Saint Aubin du Cormier Vin & Spirit (liquor production), The Diamond Standard (diamonds), Vin Lee Jewelers (fine jewelry design and manufacturing), The House of Horace (fashion, beauty and accessories), The Beverly Hills Cigar Club (cigar clubs), Goldwin Tobacco (wholesale cigar), The Caesar Golf Company (golf equipment). The company has been active in the Sarasota area for over 10 years operating with such partner companies as Sarasota Sterling (fine jewelry), Don Michael.com (cigar wholesale), Grand Armand (real estate planning and development) and once owning the largest privately held ISP under the Sarasota name. The Grand Metropolitan Companies have every intention of upholding the journalistic integrity of Sarasota in the new version of The Sarasota Sun. While the original publication was structured to be subscription based, Grand Metropolitan is planning on releasing The Sarasota Sun both in print and online as a FREE publication and promoting the beauty and charm in all that is Sarasota.