Cuchet bids goodbye to Fine+Rare

Baudouin Cuchet has left UK wine merchant Fine+Rare, a company he co-founded, saying he was “immensely proud” of the business he was leaving behind but that he wasn’t gone for good from the trade.

Cuchet – known widely in the industry as ‘Bud’ – announced his departure on Twitter yesterday (15 October). As well as helping found the business he was also buying director.

Responding to questions from the drinks business Cuchet said he’d been made an offer for his shares in the company that he “couldn’t refuse” and was looking forward to a break after 30 years in the industry – 23 of them with Fine+Rare.

However, he added that the break was not permanent and “I won’t be absent for too long.”

With regards the business he helped build he said: “I am immensely proud of what Fine+Rare has become and I think it is in a brilliant position to keep moving onward and upward.

“It is very sad to say goodbye to some amazing people who I have become close to over the years, but the biggest goodbye will be to the company I set up on a £10 pasting table from Ikea 23 years ago. I’m very proud of what we have achieved.”

Fine+Rare has not currently made any announcement as to who will be taking Cuchet’s role as buying director.