TIDMDIS
RNS Number : 4327R
Distil PLC
06 July 2022
DISTIL APPOINTS COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR AS IT ANNOUNCES MOVE FROM UK
DISTRIBUTOR
New position of Commercial Director created to support
accelerated growth ambitions
Distil Plc (AIM: DIS), owner of premium drinks brands RedLeg
Spiced Rum, Blackwoods Gin and Vodka, TRØVE Botanical Vodka, Blavod
Black Vodka, and Diva Vodka has today announced the appointment of
Commercial Director, Alex Baker, as it remodels for accelerated
growth.
The announcement has been made in conjunction with the news that
Distil will be entering a new distribution agreement with Marussia
Beverages UK, following the decision to withdraw its portfolio of
spirits from long-term UK distributor, Hi-Spirits.
APPOINTMENT OF COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR
Alex Baker brings a wealth of experience to the business. Having
begun his sales career at Nestle Purina, Alex moved into the drinks
industry with an appointment at William Grant & Sons, where he
led the commercial delivery of key retail partners including
Sainsbury's, Morrisons & Waitrose, building long term, profit
growth for brands such as Glenfiddich, Hendricks & Sailor
Jerry.
Recently, Alex has held the position of Business Unit
Controller, Grocery, eCommerce, Convenience and Discounters at
Hi-Spirits, where he was responsible for leading a team and
delivering off-trade performance across a broad portfolio,
including Distil brands.
Alex will play a pivotal role in delivering Distil's growth
ambitions as it remodels its business. He will be responsible for
directly managing major UK off-trade customers, as well as leading
the continued drive to expand and open new export markets.
Alex Baker comments: "I've greatly enjoyed working closely with
the Distil team during my time at Hi-Spirits. The portfolio of
brands is strong and resonates well with consumers, and I'm excited
to now bring my experience to the team full-time to help drive the
business forward at such an exciting time."
DISTIL TAKES DIRECT CONTROL OF MAJOR CUSTOMERS
The appointment of Alex as Commercial Director is announced in
conjunction with the news that Distil will be parting ways with UK
distributor Hi-Spirits, with whom it has worked closely with over
the last eight years.
Dedicating commercial resource internally through the creation
of Alex's position has enabled this important change, and will
allow Distil to take direct ownership of servicing its major UK
customers.
The move will give Distil direct contact with customers,
allowing for closer and more agile account management, control of
promotional planning and delivery of strategically aligned brand
plans to drive visibility and growth, as well as providing the
opportunity to reduce costs at a time of increasing pressures
across the supply chain, which is expected to continue in the near
term.
SERVICING THE ON-TRADE
The on-trade is a fragmented but important sector for the
spirits market and plays a pivotal role in brand building. In order
to effectively service the UK on-trade within its new business
model, Distil is delighted to announce a new partnership with
Marussia Beverages, which will come into effect from 1 October
2022.
Part of the Swiss-based Marussia Beverages Group, Marussia is
the UK's leading artisanal spirits business with a strong portfolio
of authentic premium brands including Hatozaki and Torabhaig
Whiskies, Mozart Chocolate Liqueur and Akashi Sake.
The team will focus on building on-trade distribution and
promotion across the Distil portfolio as hospitality recovers
post-Covid, as well as managing national on-trade retail and the
wholesale channel. The team will also play a key role in successful
New Product Development.
Trevenon Weeks, MD Marussia Beverages UK, said; "We're excited
to have Distil brands in our portfolio which fit well within our
broad range of high-quality products for the on-trade. We look
forward to working closely with the team to see where we can take
the brands."
COMMENT FROM EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
Don Goulding, Executive Chairman, comments: "We are excited to
welcome Alex Baker to the team in the newly created role of
Commercial Director, directly responsible for all sales across
domestic and international markets.
His wide experience within the premium spirits market and close
knowledge of our brands and customers is invaluable to help drive
our business forward and deliver strong results to support our
growth ambitions.
We are also delighted to announce the distribution agreement
with Marussia Beverages UK. Aligning with our ambitions, we're
confident that Marussia Beverages UK is the right on-trade
distribution partner for our brands, and look forward to working
closely with MD, Trevenon Weeks, and his teams to increase our
on-trade and regional retail brand presence and activities.
Hi-Spirits has been a valuable partner for Distil over the last
eight years and played a supporting role in helping us to build our
brand availability in the earlier stages. We thank the team for
everything they have done to support our business.
This significant change represents part of a wider business
remodel for Distil. Providing undistracted focus on Distil's
portfolio of brands, it will help us to manage cost increases more
easily, and better serve our customers to deliver accelerated
growth plans."
For further information:
Distil PLC
Don Goulding, Executive Chairman Tel +44 203 405 0475
Shaun Claydon, Finance Director
---------------------
SPARK Advisory Partners Limited
(NOMAD
---------------------
Neil Baldwin Tel +44 20 3368 3550
Mark Brady
---------------------
Turner Pope Investments (TPI)
Ltd (Broker)
---------------------
Andy Thacker / James Pope Tel +44 20 3657 0050
---------------------
About Distil
Distil Plc is quoted on the AIM market of the London Stock
Exchange. It owns drinks brands in a number of sectors of the
alcoholic drinks market. These include premium spiced rum, vodka,
gin, vodka vanilla cream liqueur and are called RedLeg Spiced Rum.
Blackwoods Vintage Gin, Blackwoods Vodka, TRØVE Botanical Vodkas,
Blavod Original Black Vodka and Diva Vodka.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION AS STIPULATED
UNDER THE UK VERSION OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION NO 596/2014
WHICH IS PART OF ENGLISH LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN (WITHDRAWAL)
ACT 2018, AS AMENDED. ON PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A
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END
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