Bargain Booze owner Conviviality strengthens buying team

By Gemma McKenna

Published: 02 October, 2014

Bargain Booze and Wine Rack owner Conviviality Retail has boosted its buying team with Andrew Dorricot and Emma Breslin.

Dorricott becomes new head of non-licensed products, joining the team from Spar, while wine buyer Breslin, joined when Conviviality purchased Rhythm & Booze.

Dorricott will develop the grocery, chilled, fresh and frozen range available to Conviviality's 600-strong estate of Bargain Booze, Thorougoods and Bargain Booze Select Convenience stores. His responsibilities also include the non-licensed range in Wine Rack.

Dorricott was head of fresh food at Spar for six years, previously holding posts and Co-operative Food and Somerfield.

He said: "It's a fantastic time to join Conviviality as it undergoes an exciting period of store and product range development while expanding across the country. My mission will be to ensure our stores continue to be a convenient shop for our customers, ensuring our product range meets all their meal occasion needs."

Breslin will focus on Old World, Champagne and sparkling wines.

Conviviality Retail's new concept has an 800-strong range - including 400 wines, starting at £3.99 and offering a wide range of discounts.

Kenton Burchell, commercial director for Conviviality, said: "Both Andrew and Emma have a wealth of experience in the off-licence and convenience sector and are already making a big impact by developing our food and wine offer.

"The appointments further increase the expertise of our buying team and will help us to access an even greater selection of products and deals on behalf of our franchisees and their customers."

For the year to April 27, 2014, Conviviality's group profit before tax increased by 31.5% to £9.3 million, while its EBITDA was £12.4 million, compared with £12.6 million the previous year.

It said franchisee profit per store increased by 10%, while like-for-like sales at Wine Rack improved by 1.4% in the second half of the year.

Delivering the results in July, chief executive Diana Hunter said: "These are strong results achieved during a period of significant change for our business and we are making good progress to deliver our strategy."

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