Berry Bros & Rudd shuts up shop

Historic wine merchant Berry Bros & Rudd has shut down its Dublin shop as costs outweigh revenue during the economic crisis.

The Dublin store closes on its 10th anniversary and will cease trading on 31 July. The closure is happening due to "high running costs combined with high retail rents has meant the company has been unable to make an acceptable return despite a decade of continued investment in the operation".
 
Hugh Sturges, managing director of BBR, said: “I would like to thank all our customers, suppliers and staff for their loyalty of the last 10 years. We have very much enjoyed being part of the Irish wine market as it has grown and we hope to continue to be part of it as it continues on its upward path.

Sturges added that in order to continue supplying its Irish customers the company will be "working hard to find a solution where we can continue to provide a service through a variety of distance selling methods supported by representatives of the BB&R Group in the market."

Excluding the Dublin store, BBR has three retail operations, in Basingstoke, England; London and Hong Kong.  

Jane Parkinson, 30.04.09