Berry’s to open office in Singapore

Berry Bros. & Rudd is to set up an office in Singapore next month to complement its operations in Hong Kong and Japan.

Singapore skyline at night

The new office will be managed by Nick Pegna, who previously managed Berry’s Hong Kong business, which is now run by Simon Staples, former sales and marketing director for Berry’s in the UK.

Explaining the decision to open an office in Singapore, Alun Griffiths MW said that southeast Asia was an opportunity for the wine merchant.

“We believe there is a lot of business in Indonesia and Malaysia,” he commented.

He stressed the increasing number of successful businessmen in these countries who “have travelled widely and like to eat and drink well.”

He added that such potential customers were, presently, “not served well in their own country”.

While Pegna will manage southeast Asia from July, he said that Staples would take on the responsibility for the north Asian region for Berry’s, and that he would be taking a six-month secondment to Japan.

“We have already been in Japan for three years and Hong Kong for 13; Singapore is the next step,” he concluded.

The drinks business would like to clarify that Berry Bros. & Rudd Hong Kong is operated by Chinaplus Wines under a license and distribution agreement.

Simon Staples is not responsible for the day to day running of this Hong Kong business, which is chaired by KK Mui, however Simon has overall responsibility for fine wine sales and supply for Berry Bros. & Rudd Limited within Asia and is focused on supporting the sales teams of its operating companies and partners in the region.