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Les Grand Chais de France backs independents by signing up to Best Practice Guidelines

Published:  21 March, 2014

French wine producer, Les Grand Chais de France, is the biggest wine name to show its commitment to the independent merchant sector by signing up to the Harpers Best Practice Guidelines that oversee how producers and suppliers are working in the independent sector.

French wine producer, Les Grand Chais de France, follows the Castel group as one of the biggest wine names to show its commitment to the independent merchant sector by signing up to the Harpers Best Practice Guidelines that oversee how producers and suppliers are working in the independent sector.

The guidelines have received widespread backing from across the independent merchant sector and came about following a series of open discussions between leading independents and suppliers over how the two sides could work better together.

Since its inception in November, 2011 the Best Practice Guidelines have seen major wine producers like Castel, Mentzendorff and Grupo Codoruniu sign up along with UK agencies including Hayward Bros, World Wine Agenices, Patriarche, Indigo Wine, Ehrmanns, Les Caves de Pyrene, Hatch Mansfield, Cavendish Wines, Las Bodegas, PLB, De Bortoli Wines, Bottle Green, and Raymond Reynolds.

Les Grand Chais de France is the second major French player to commit to the guidelines after Castel.

Tim North, UK director of Les Grand Chais de France, explained why it had signed up: "At Grands Chais we believe that the history and heritage of France sets it apart from other wine-producing countries.

"The experience of generations has created unique wines that reflect their terroir. This gives a plethora of stories which it is important to communicate to the consumer. Consequently we have set apart a range of wines which we will sell only to independent retailers and on-trade wholesalers who have the opportunity to hand sell wines.

"An important part of this portfolio comes from our own properties. Les Grands Chais de France now owns more than 1,500 hectares of vines. We have Chateaux and Domaines in Bordeaux, The Loire, Alsace and the Languedoc. It is very important for us to find the right route to market for these wines."

As part of its commitment to the Best Practice Guidelines Les Grand Chais de France has confirmed to Harpers that it has "developed a strategy to sell a completely different portfolio to independant merchants".

Grand Chais de France

It added: "Not only are we always willing to engage in conversation with clients or prospective clients but we actively encourage such enquiries as they are the best way to develop harmonious trading relationships.All of our team, in all sectors have been briefed on our portfolio strategy."

Les Grand Chais de France has also confirmed its "GCF Exclusif portfolio is designed with the independents and the on-trade in mind and isn't available to the multiples. Separate price/portfolio lists are given to sales people in the different sectors. This clearly communicates the distribution strategy."

It also stresses that in "the unlikely eventuality of a GCF Exclusif wine changing distribution channels, GCF pledges to inform stockists immediately".

  • You can see which other suppliers have signed up to the guidelines by clicking here.

If you are a supplier or producer working with independent merchants and would like to sign up to the guidelines then contact Richard Siddle at richard.siddle@wrbm.com.

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