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Nickolls & Perks sign deal with Vindependents

The deal will give West Midlands based Nickolls & Perks access to the wines of almost 100 producers signed exclusively to Vindependents, an agency owned by some of the country’s largest independent wine distributors. It will also give Nickolls & Perks the opportunity to accrue equity in the agency depending on the amount of wine it buys from it.

In February it was revealed that two founding members of the agency, The Oxford Wine Company and Corks Out, had ceased operating with Vindependents. The businesses cited a variety of reasons for the decision to quit the agency, including the weakness in sterling and the ability to secure stocks at lower prices through wholesale.

Nevertheless, the agency has set out bold ambitions for future growth, claiming it is on course to hit the 50 member mark as it continues to tour the UK to sign up more independent merchants and retailers. Vindependents was set up in 2015 by 17 founder members. Its numbers have now risen to more than 30.

“Vindependents have to be congratulated on the offering they have put together in a relatively short period,” said Nickolls & Perks MD Will Gardner. “It was not long before we realised there were lots of potentially interesting additions to our portfolio to make joining sufficiently interesting. I fully expect their range to strengthen too.”

Vindependents MD Jessica Hutchinson added that signing the Stourbridge based business will allow the group to widen its geographical reach. “As one of the foremost merchants in the country, who are also in an area that we are not already covering, it is really good news for us and for our suppliers,” she said.