Chief of the Week: Michael Saunders

By Claret Pimpernel

Published: 30 October, 2014

There really can only be one stand out personality in the wine and spirits world this week. Yes, Michael Saunders the new chief of the combined Bibendum PLB group following the former's takeover of the latter earlier this week.

Michael Saunders Michael Saunders, boss of newly created Bibendum PLB, is Chief of the Week

The move marks arguably the biggest deal between UK drinks distributors and not only brings together two of the biggest national players, it has been done so seemingly with little bloodshed.

What's more the two sides managed to keep things under wraps right up to the announcement which in this world of leaks and tweets takes some doing.

It is said Saunders has been in talks with PLB's Fredericks family since February and the new business has been described as wine and spirits' first super group. It will be fascinating to see how the two sides of the business come together over the coming weeks, particularly when Saunders finds the central London venue he is looking for to house one mothership of a head office.

It is not only PLB that Bibendum is bringing in to the fold but the independent wine specialists, Walker & Wodehouse, which potentially means wine merchants will be able to benefit from the scale of the new operation.

A good time, perhaps, for this new super group o sign up to the Harpers Best Practice Guidelines.

We wish Saunders and all the team at Bibendum PLB the best for the future.

After all the scale of this deal will impact everyone in the UK on and off-trades so let's raise a glass to this week's Chief of the Week: Michael Saunders.

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