?Wine industry stalwart Rodney Densem dies suddenly

By Carol Emmas

Published: 18 December, 2013

Rodney Densem, chairman of Rodney Densem Wines and Telford Wines has died suddenly, aged 65.

Former Cheshire hoteliers Densem and his co-director wife; Margie started the business in1972 selling Bordeaux and Burgundy to the off-trade and opened a retail outlet Rodney Densem Wines in Nantwich, which is still in operation.

The company expanded into the wholesale market and more recently acquired Telford Wines in 2011 and The Bretby Wine Company last month. Densem was planning further acquisitions in a bid to grow the company organically and expected the business to treble in size over the next few years. He had a strongly held view about remaining independent and impartial regarding sourcing wines and travelled extensively throughout Europe over 30 years establishing agency agreements, some of which still remain today.

Densem lived in Nantwich where the RDW retail operation is located and leaves behind wife Margie, son Simon, daughter in law Paraskevi and grandson Leon.

Although Densem had largely taken a back seat from day to day operations, Steve Leonard, group managing director, said: "Rodney was always available to discuss our continuing expansion plans be it via takeovers, introduction of composite trading or our latest development in spirit agencies. His wife Margie, managing director, Telford Wines, Nick Gent and myself will carry on his legacy of continued controlled growth whilst remaining totally independent."

There will be a small family funeral held prior to Christmas, with a memorial service to follow early in 2014.

Densem was interviewed by Harpers and appeared in the feature - Putting the North West on the Map, in November 25 issue.

You can read that article here on Harpers.co.uk.

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