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Ridgeview appoints Bibendum as new distributor
English sparkling wine producer Ridgeview Wine Estate has appointed Bibendum PLB as its new distributor.
Ridgeview CEO Tamara Roberts
As of 1 September, Ridgeview wines will be available to the on-trade via Bibendum; branded products to multiple retailers via PLB; and to independent retailers through Walker & Wodehouse.
Ridgeview switches distribution to Bibendum after working with Enotria for the past six years.
Sussex-based Ridgeview is a family business founded in 1995 by Mike and Chris Roberts. The second generation of the family – including Tamara Roberts as CEO and Simon Roberts as winemaker – is now looking to take the business to the next level, with an aim to almost double production by 2020 as well as targeting growth in independent retail across the UK.
Founded in 1995, Ridgeview Wine Estate celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. Earlier this year it was named as one of Downing Street’s official wines. The estate’s wines have also been served by the Queen at state banquets at Buckingham Palace and for the official Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
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The estate’s export reseller portfolio is rapidly expanding, with its wines now sold in 12 countries worldwide including the US, Holland, Japan, Australia and Finland.
Demand for Ridgeview wines has made expansion a key priority for the company, which is aiming to raise production from its current level of around 250,000 bottles to 400,000 by 2020.
Commenting on the move, Tamara Roberts said: “Enotria has been a huge supporter of ours since the beginning and we are grateful for all their work establishing Ridgeview in the UK trade.”
“We are now looking forward to a new partnership with the biggest drinks provider in the UK, and are excited about the opportunities it will bring.”
‘A good fit’
“We started with Enotria more than six years ago and in that time both our businesses have changed quite significantly,” she added.
“It just came to the point where we felt that Bibendum could potentially offer us a lot more avenues of sale and… would be a good fit for the next phase of Ridgeview’s growth.
“Enotria have served us extremely well and we’ve had a great relationship there, but it was just time for the next step.”
In terms of targets under the Bibendum distribution contract, Roberts pointed to a consolidation of Ridgeview’s on-trade profile, as well as extending the brand’s reach among independent retail beyond the south-east of England.
“As always the on-trade is important,” she said. “We’re not the biggest producer of English sparkling wines and nor do we want to be – we just want to be one of the best, so for us, [in terms of] on-trade accounts, [we are looking for] good relationships [and] long-term listings.
“From our point of view we want to see a lot more work done regionally. Obviously London and, near us, Brighton, is a good stronghold for us but we would like to start to see the wines going out into the north-west, the north-east and into the south-west as well,” she said, adding that northern independent retailer Booths began stocking Ridgeview wines in July.
Andrew Shaw, buying director for Bibendum, PLB and Walker & Wodehouse, commented: “We are delighted that Ridgeview has chosen us as their new partner.
“The wines are regularly picking up top awards and the team’s dedication and passion is inspiring.
“I’m looking forward to being able to offer existing and future customers the Ridgeview portfolio which will bring further impact to our already great quality English wine range.”