ABS partnership targets Scottish market

Awin Barratt Siegel (ABS) has teamed up with Glasgow-based fellow independent importer Alexander Wine to target the Scottish market.

While both companies will remain independent, their shared buying power and marketing resources, combined with Scottish-based sales and logistics, will offer an “unrivalled” selection of premium wines to the trade in Scotland, a statement from the companies said.

Known for their award-winning range of European and antipodean wines, ABS will add its extensive specialist knowledge to the Alexander Wines team.

In turn, Alexander Wines, which this year celebrates 35 years in the Scottish wine trade, has a growing selection of Spanish and South African wines, together with some of the best producers in France, which ensures that both ranges complement each other.

In the coming weeks the two companies will announce the first in a series of joint tastings to showcase their portfolios.

“Fraser and I have worked together for over 30 years, so you could say that this partnership has been a long time coming, but it is certainly well considered,” said Michael Awin, founder and managing partner of ABS.

“We look forward to many, many years of even closer co-operation.”

Fraser Alexander, founder and owner of Alexander Wines, added: “I’ve always had great respect for [Michael] and the business he’s built.

“The people, the producers, the wines, the shared values – we believe our companies are a great fit.”