Negociants UK wants to be number one Australian and New Zealand specialist in the UK

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Published on Thursday, 24 May 2012 12:37

Written by Richard Siddle

Negociants UK is firmly focused on becoming the number one specialist operator in Britain for Australian and New Zealand wines.

Simon Thorpe MW, managing director of Negociants UK, told Harpers at the London International Wine Fair that its ability to now sell direct to the trade was having a big impact on its profile and distribution around the country.

Since the move to take control of its own sales operation from Berkmann, Negociants UK has been building up its team and portfolio of specialist Australian and New Zealand wines.

He conceded that issues such as the weak Australian dollar were a concern, but the long-term future for Australian wine in the UK remained strong. "There is long-term commitment to the UK and we want to be at the forefront of that," he said.

There was certainly fresh interest in Australia from the trade, thanks to new styles and winemaking techniques, both among traditional wineries and new players in the market. "The trade may have become a little jaded about Australia but the interest from consumers has never gone away," he added.

Negociants UK, he said, is committed to playing a full and active part in Wine Australa's plans in the UK, but it was too early to say how the new funding arrangements would play out.

To help raise its profile further around the country among indpendents and the on-trade, Negociants UK is going on a tour in the second half of September, conducting tastings and dinners with four of its Australian winery partners and two New Zealand winemakers.