Subscriber login Close [x]
remember me
You are not logged in.

Vindpendents agency recruits three new members

Published:  07 December, 2015

Wine agency Vindependents has added three new independent wine merchants to its membership, taking its total to 21.

Cornwall's Old Chapel Cellars, Solihull-based Fraziers Wine Merchants and Salut Wines in Manchester have joined the group followings its inaugural portfolio tasting. William Frazier of Fraziers Wine Merchants said: "Vindependents has an exciting range of wines, and the team at Frazier's Wine are keen on developing these wines in the Midlands area.

Sara Saunby of Salut Wines said: "We also look forward to sharing our expertise with the other members who are well regarded within the wine trade.

"We're thrilled to be joining a group of like-minded independents enabling us to bring wines into Salut direct from source. We're looking forward to getting some exciting and great value wines which can't be found in the nationals."

Initially founded as an informal group for a small number of independent merchants in 2010, Vindependents was launched as a commercial entity in its own right earlier this year.

Jessica Hutchinson, founder of Burgundy specialist agency Tamar Selections, has been brought on board to run the group.

The 17 founding members are hoping to attract up to 50 further members.

Jessica Hutchinson

To qualify for membership, merchants must be privately owned, have fewer than 25 stores, make no more than 30% of their revenue from online sales, and be a beer, wine and spirits specialist.

Vindependents offers an exclusive range of wines specifically selected for the independent sector. It does not sell directly to restaurants.

Members of Vindependents become shareholders in the business, which incentivizes them to buy from the group.

The more members buy from Vindependents, the more shares in it they receive.

Founder members of Vindependents include Oxford Wine Company, Corks Out, and Noel Young Wines.

Keywords: