“Big opportunity” for Australian wine as Negociants expands team

Negociants has said there is an opportunity to tap into the “big opportunity” for Australian premium wine in the London on-trade, as it expands the team.

Negociants md Simon Thorpe MW

It has appointed Tom Grundy to look after its London and the South East sales, who will focus much of his attention around the company’s Yalumba, Jim Barry, Rockford, Brokenwood, Vasse Felix and Pewsey Vale brands, as well as its New Zealand brand Nautilus Estate.

Grundy joins the Australian importer from Alliance Wines in Scotland, where he worked on national accounts, but previously spent four years covered the London on-trade at Liberty Wines. He started his career as a sommelier working in boutique hotels.

Negociants UK managing director Simon Thorpe MW said he was delighted to welcome Grundy to the team. “He brings a wealth of experience across the on-trade channels, further underlining our commitment to maintaining our position as the UK’s number one premium Australia and New Zealand specialist,” he said.

Grundy said there was a “big opportunity” for premium Australian wines to grow in the largely London-centric on-trade.

“There is headroom for growth and the market is favourable to Australia fulfilling that,” he told db.

Speaking to db earlier this year, Thorpe said the UK had a “two speed industry” in terms of the mainstream and premium offering, and despite the reduction of overall mainstream ranges at retail, Australia still had a lot to offer at both levels.

“Australian has the ability to play and paddle in both stream,” he said. “It has both the reputation, scale and consistency of quality that makes it well suited to the mainstream market place and Australia’s market share grew during 2015, so it is doing well,” he said. “

“The quality of wines and diversity its offering at the premium level has never been greater and it must be said, it is hard to argue that any New World County has the variety and interest, reputation or ability to producer, so it’s well-placed to do so.”

The company has also been building distribution of its Marlborough brand, Nautilus Estate, winning listing with BA in Business Class. Its wines are also sold throughout the Hilton Group across mainland Europe.

“Our job in the UK is to build on that,” he added. “It is building the reputation of something that has been around for a long time, which is an interesting conundrum.. The quality of the wine is stunning and our challenge is to get those known and he able to secure more and more prestige listings.”