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Armit Wines beefs up its team as it prepares for the next phase “of growth”
Armit Wines has announced a number of key staff appointment, including boosting its premium on trade team, private client and multiple-retail sector and a number of internal promotions.
The merchant and supplier has appointed former-Vinothentic business development manager Fabrice Guercio alongside specialist in Italian wines in the on-trade, Riccardo Giacomelli from Liberty Wines as its boosts its on-trade teams, while Matthew Gay has been appointed to focus on the multiple retail sector as a new national accounts manager.
The private clients team has also been boosted with the appointment of new head of department William Russell, supported by Natalia Pogodzik, who has been promoted from customer services executive to private client support. Hannah McKay will take on Armit’s brand management team both reporting to portfolio director Nicolas Clerc MS, along with newly promoted Alessandro Comitini, while Alexandra Hale has been promoted to head of marketing and communication.
“It is always Armit’s desire to promote from within,” managing director Brett Fleming continued. “In appointing [Hale] I have been clear to change course from data driven marketing to a more traditional marketing approach, focused on PR, events and relationships. We need to raise the profile of the incredible wines from our suppliers showcasing just how good they are as well as Armit Wines’ place in the market.”
The appointments are part of a wider move to consolidate the turnaround of Armit Wine’s fortunes over the last five years, the company said, and would enable it deliver on a new five-year strategy, despite the industry “struggling through one of the most challenging periods it has faced.”
Fleming said the team would deliver on expectations and its continued search for new producers was “fundamental to our growth”.
“In returning to profit and building strong results, we now wish to have growth at the forefront of our next 5-year period. Given the challenges in the market we are investing in key appointments to maintain and drive our next chapter of growth,” Fleming said.
In March, the company filed results to the year ending 20 June 2023, which saw an increase in turnover around 3% higher than had been expected, to £25.7million, partly on the back of price increases, new additions to the portfolio and “improved allocations on key en primeur campaigns”. (it should be noted however that due to a difference in reporting time, a direct comparison to the previous 9-month period, which netted turnover of £18.6m was not possible). Growth in the on-trade had been supported by “additional investment”, it said, while working capital had been improved through cost control measures, and tighter inventory purchasing.
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