Matthew Clark wins Q Hotels contract

UK wine and spirits distributor Matthew Clark has taken over the supply contract for Q Hotels from Bibendum PLB in what it claims is a coup for the company.

Matthew Clark was taken over by Conviviality last month (Photo: Matthew Clark)

The new contract is one of a handful of what Matthew Clark calls “premium accounts” signing up to the company.

The Conrad St James hotel and the new Hilton Bankside, along with the high-end M Restaurants, are now being supplied by Matthew Clark, it said in a statement.

Hailing the “fantastic new account wins”, Simon Haywood, wine manager at Matthew Clark, said: “It’s really great to be working alongside not only more top wineries but top premium on trade accounts too.”

The company claimed its “rigorous sourcing of boutique wines and spirits over the last few years” is to thank for winning the new contracts, it said.

The deals come after drinks wholesaler and retailer Conviviality took over Matthew Clark in October in a deal worth £200 million, after pub company Punch Taverns agreed to sell its large stake in the distributor.

The deal has created a drinks wholesale giant with a combined turnover of £1.1bn, covering the on- and off-trade from local off-license franchises to specialist wines stores, from pubs to upmarket restaurants and hotels.

On the deal, Conviviality boss Diana Hunter said: “Under the umbrella brand of Conviviality, we’re in a stronger position than ever to really understand consumer drinking and shopping habits, as well as where they like to go out to socialise, drink and eat, and the different, changing behaviour depends on those occasion and circumstances are.”