I Heart Wines to move into travel retail

By Erin Smith

Published: 16 July, 2014

Copestick Murray's I Heart wine brand is entering the travel retail market with the appointment of specialist distribution partner Red Zero 7.

Copestick Murray's I Heart wine brand is entering the travel retail market with the appointment of Red Zero 7, a start up specialist distribution company for the travel and duty free channel founded by industry veteran Andy Butcher.

Robin Copestick, managing director of I Heart Wines, told the travel retail and business intelligence website, The Moodie Report that "the time is now right to establish our brand in travel retail and duty free". "We can think of no better partner in this specialised sector, we're both very excited about the future and are confident that with Red Zero 7's innovative approach and expertise, that this is the start of another successful chapter in our history."

Andy Butcher, founder and managing director of Red Zero 7 said: "We are a really new business and are really excited to be working with I heart brand. I think it has a huge opportunity to show something different than the same old same old. Big brands typically have the travel retail and duty free business pretty tied up and it is highly competitive. I certainly think the I Heart brand is so approachable and its different."

Although the travel season is already well under way and many of the orders for the retail travel sector are placed in March and April, Butcher sees sales potential for this year with "cruise ships, border stores and possibly airlines."

Butcher launched Red Zero 7 in May after leaving his post as a director at the World of Patria International. Patria is a one-stop shop for global duty operator and Butcher had been with company and was a major shareholder up until April. He has had over 35 years experience in the travel retail and duty free industries.

The I Heart wine brand has been successful in the on and off-trade - at the end of March 2014 Copestick told Harpers.co.uk the company was close to hitting 1 million 9 litre cases globally. It is now distributed in 16 countries around the world thanks largely to the investment of its major shareholder, the German sparkling wine giant, Henkell, which owns 20 distribution centres around the world.

The I Heart wine portfolio beefed up its offering to include a sparkling moscato from Brazil ahead of the World Cup.

Globally the company has expanded internationally and is focused on the United States market where Copestick sees a "massive" sales opportunity.

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