D&D Wines International parts company with Fratelli Martini

Fratelli Martini is to set up its own UK office.

D&D Wines were the inspiration and the driving force behind the Canti brand which they developed with Fratelli Martini and launched in 2002. Canti became the Italian brand leader, gaining distribution across most of the major multiple retailers and extending the brand portfolio considerably.

D&D Wines is currently the largest importer of Italian wines to the UK market accounting for 30% of sales in the off trade through its 2 main partners, La Gioiosa and Fratelli Martini.

D&D Wines International will continue to be a leading importer of Italian wines to the UK and is in advanced discussions with several major Italian producers to develop a strategic partnership creating a leading category solution for Italy encompassing a dynamic portfolio of Italian wine brands plus a comprehensive portfolio of Italian own label wines to meet the needs of all the UK's major retailers.

This exciting development will encompass a full spectrum of wines from regions including Tuscany, Sicily, Piedmonte, Emilia Romagna, Friuli and Abbruzzo to complement the full portfolio of La Gioiosa wines in the DDWI portfolio.

La Gioiosa, based in Veneto, holds a significant position in the UK and is the 24th largest wine brand in the UK market by value. With a portfolio of still wines and a leader in the production of Prosecco, La Gioiosa has innovative plans to grow its business across all sectors of the UK off-trade. At this year's LIWF La Gioiosa unveiled a new branded range of naturally low alcohol wines at 9% abv, already securing distribution in Tesco for later this year.

La Gioiosa currently has distribution in Tesco, Co-op and Threshers.

DDWI Marketing Director Lewis Jones said, "We have made Canti and La Gioiosa the leading Italian brands they are today. As the biggest importer of Italian wines to the UK, D&D Wines have a huge amount of expertise in the Italian category and we are excited to be embarking on a new period of development within the Italian category with some very impressive new partners."