Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Bargain Booze heads down south

Published: 18 April, 2023

As the largest off-licence chain in the UK, what does the future have in store for Bargain Booze and its
390 franchisees? James Bayley reports.

Wine Rack and Bargain Booze saved by Bestway

Published: 08 April, 2018

Conviviality Plc’s retail division has been bought by Bestway, in a £7 million deal, saving around 2,000 jobs that had been put at serious risk by the collapse of the drinks giant.

Conviviality breakup likely as £125m fundraiser fails

Published: 28 March, 2018

Conviviality Plc has failed to raise the £125 million needed to recapitalise the business following a tumultuous month which saw three profit warnings, its market value tumble, shares suspended and the departure of CEO Diana Hunter.

Conviviality to raise £125 million to avoid collapsing

Published: 22 March, 2018

Conviviality has confirmed its likely to go out of business if its fundraising bid to raise £125 million fails.

Conviviality Retail to ‘accelerate growth’ with £25M acquisition of over 100 Central Convenience Stores

Published: 15 December, 2017

Conviviality, the alcohol wholesaler, distributor and high street retailer, is to buy 109 convenience stores from failed Palmer & Harvey (P&H) through its subsidiary Bargain Booze.

Sales almost double at Conviviality

Published: 25 May, 2017

Conviviality, the owner of Bargain Booze, has seen sales nearly double in the past year to pass the £1.5bn mark.

The independent alcohol wholesaler and distributor, which agreed a £60m deal to acquire wine, spirit and beer distributor Bibendum in May last year, said sales were up from £841m to £1.56bn in a trading statement released this morning (52 w/e to 30 April, 2017).

Net debt was £99 million – “comfortably below” Conviviality’s target, it said, adding the positive results were in line with the board’s expectations.

The integration of Bibendum, together with wine wholesaler Matthew Clark which it bought in 2015, was “progressing well”, said chief executive, Diana Hunter.

"Our focus will continue to be on improving the business and ensuring that benefits are realised from our greater scale, as we drive efficiencies for the group and greater service for our customers.”

Conviviality, which re-organised its activities into three business units during the year – Direct, Retail and Trading, reported growth for each, with sales up 6.4%, 6.1% and 1% respectively.

"We have come to the end of an unprecedented year of change and I am pleased to report a strong trading performance for the group and for each of its business units,” said Hunter.