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Bancroft sets out expansion strategy as it chalks up 25 years in the wine business

Published:  30 June, 2015

Agency company Bancroft Wines is aiming to build its business in on-trade national accounts and expand its footprint in independent wine merchants as it enters its second quarter of a century.

The company - founded by Adam Bancroft MW as Adam Adam Bancroft Associates - celebrates its 25th anniversary at an event in London this week.

Managing director Neil McAndrew told harpers.co.uk that he hoped to become a more significant player while remaining focused on the model of small and medium-sized family wine producers that Bancroft had established.

The business was bought by Peter De Haan - a former director of the Saga holiday business, and the son of its founder - after Bancroft's death from illness at the age of 41 in 1999.

"When Peter De Haan bought it, the company was turning over £2 million and now we're at £8.5 million. Over the next five years we want to get to £15 million - and it's achievable.

"A lot of people are now targeting the independent and regional retail sector but it's always been our natural territory, though arguably we're focused more on the southern half of the country and could make a bigger splash in the north.

"The types of producer we represent are about provenance, heritage and history - they're not just Pinot Grigio from a co-operative somewhere. They're not really interested in being in the big supermarkets, so we won't be trying to get into Sainsbury's or Tesco, because that's not what we're about.

"But we do have some business with Majestic, Waitrose and Mark & Spencer and we want to build on that with suitable national accounts in the on-trade."

McAndrew said the team was expanding with two London on-trade reps and two people in fine wine, another area where Bancroft would look to expand.

"It's probably our smallest division but we feel it can be a significant part for private clients, both with wines from our own agency producers and wines that are available on the open market."

David Murphy - ex of AWC, Wine Networks and Liberty Wines - is joining the company as head of purchasing.

Bancroft's extensive portfolio includes Hay Shed Hill and Ten Minutes By Tractor (pictured above) in Australia, Luigi Bosca in Argentina, Andre Kientzler in Alsace and Domaine Billaud Simon in Chablis.

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