M&S signs deal to bottle New World wines at Kingsland

By Gemma McKenna

Published: 12 February, 2015

Marks & Spencer will use a UK firm for the first time for its New World bulk wine bottling, after striking a deal with Manchester's Kingsland.

Kingsland Wines Kingsland Wines

The retailer is aiming to become the world's most sustainable, and with this in mind, wanted to transfer some of its bottling business to the UK.

M&S wine buyer Yves Fourcade said: "Kingsland convinced us that it has all the facilities, market expertise and shared values that will support and augment our wine business, and also help us achieve the high reaching goals we set ourselves on sustainability," comments

Kingsland has recently invested in its marketing as well as enhancing its manufacturing and logistics facilities. Among other business, quality management and environmental accreditations it has the ISO9001:2008, the BRC Grade A for Food Safety and a fully-equipped Labcred certified laboratory and is currently working towards ISO14001 for environmental management.

Guy Young Guy YoungGuy Young, commercial director, Kingsland

Guy Young, commercial director at Kingsland, said: "We have worked hard to ensure we're ahead of the curve when it comes to understanding the UK market - add to that seven fully automated bottling lines running 24/7 and our development of transportation along the Manchester Ship Canal, and I think we showed M&S that Kingsland is a company sharing the same business, ethical and sustainability goals."

Established over 50 years ago, Kingsland focuses on UK filling, packaging and bulk wine shipping, providing the complete supply chain solution. In 2012, the purchase of assets of the Stratford's business gave Kingsland the opportunity to build on its existing agency business with the addition of some more premium wines.

It currently runs at 70% capacity, and has plans for further innovation and investment. It packages 74 million litres a year, and is also focused on investing in data. Last year it strengthened its senior team with with a host of some of the trade's best-known names - including Young and former Accolade Wines marketer Neil Anderson.

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