FE Barber, which trades as Kingsland Wine & Spirits and Legacy Wines, has acquired Stratford’s Wine Agencies out of administration and has underlined that it is “business as usual”.

Stratford’s will continue to trade as a separate entity out of its Berkshire offices - Kingsland is headquartered in Irlam near Manchester.

Andy Sagar, managing director of FE Barber, said: “The deal will benefit both parties and provide essential synergies in sales and marketing, buying and the supply chain to grow the business. Stratford’s is a well-established agency in the trade, and their experience will be invaluable in our continued effort to provide a total wine solution for all our customers”.

Stratford’s has traded since the early eighties and represented several premium agencies, including Australia’s Pirie, USA’s Domaine Ste Michelle and Chile’s Anakena. But directors said it suffered due to shrinking margins in a tough trading climate.

Rob Page, sales and marketing director at Kingsland, said: “We are acquiring some excellent agencies and a distributor with a great reputation. Internally our strategy will develop over the next few months to ensure a smooth integration and to drive the business forward.”

FE Barber claims the deal will position it as a “major European wine company capable of a complete solution for a wider market”.

Last year Kingsland invested £1 million in its Irlam base, and recently completed the installation of 42 stainless steel tanks. Its on-trade division Legacy Wines launched a new brand Wonder Wines, starting with Australian retro 1950s style Board Meeting, back in June.

Kingsland was established 50 years ago and employs a largely local workforce of 300 on its 18 acre site.