Boutinot sold in management buyout

By Emily Kearns

Published: 26 March, 2013

International wine business Boutinot has been bought out by its management team, led by Dennis Whiteley, Michael Moriarty and Tony Brown MW.

Barclays and Araldica Castelvero - a Piedmont-based wine co-operative and one of Boutinot's key suppliers - support the move.

Founder Paul Boutinot plans to step down and focus on Waterkloof, a biodynamic farm he founded in South Africa; while chairman Peter Renshaw is retiring and Claudio Manera, general manager of Araldica, will replace him as non-executive chairman.

Boutinot said: "I'm thrilled that the business has been taken on by the team I know well. It is good for the staff, the loyal customer base and the producers, many of whom have been close to the business since the beginning. The team is well placed to take the business forward and build on the success they have already created."

Managing director Dennis Whiteley said: "Quite simply, it is business as usual, with the same challenges ahead of us as we faced yesterday. The strength of our business has always been its talented, hard-working and dedicated people who are passionate about the wines we sell and the customers we have the privilege to supply. We have had an amazing time working as a team with Paul and Peter, and have seen huge changes within our industry, but our values and working philosophy have remained the same and will continue to do so."

Boutinot was founded 30 years ago and has built up a portfolio of more than 1,000 wines. With a current turnover of £95 million, Boutinot is exclusive agent to 150 producers around the world and employs a team of 80.

In addition to representing producers, Boutinot supplies to UK and international retailers, restaurateurs and wholesalers, as well as owning vineyards and producing wines of its own.

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