Bancroft strengthens management, on-trade, fine-wine teams

By Mathew Lyons

Published: 24 November, 2015

London-based specialist wine distributor Bancroft Wines has announced a range of senior and sales appointments as part of its ambitious expansion plans.

David Murphy has joined as head of purchasing to oversee all aspects of purchasing, operations and fulfillment. Murphy has over 25 years experience in the trade, including spells at Liberty Wines, Wine Networks and The Antique Wine Company.

Marcus O'Brien has been appointed to the role of financial controller. O'Brien qualified as an auditor with accountants BDO in Dublin. He joins from the Gordon Ramsay Group where he was finance manager.

Bancroft's London on-trade sales team has also been bolstered with the recruitment this month of Anne Cathelineau from Justerini & Brooks and David Piazzani from Venus Wine and Spirits.

The fine wine team has recently expanded with the addition of Alejandro Diaz-de-Cerio from Fine+Rare.

The company now has 25 employees.

Neil McAndrew, managing director of Bancroft Wines, said: "Following on from a record breaking last year, we have taken steps to strengthen our existing team and I am delighted we have secured such a talented set of new additions.

"The calibre of the new sales resource coupled with the key senior management appointments positions us to meet our targeted growth."

David Murphy, Bancroft Wines

Bancroft Wines celebrated its 25^th anniversary in 2015.

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

Earlier this year Bancroft Wines restructured to create four wine divisions dedicated to its key sales channels.

The new divisions are an on-trade team for London, targeting the mid to premium on-trade; an off-trade division for the specialist independent off-trade, as well as regional on-trade and travel/leisure; a fine wine division; and an agency division for the national on and off-trade.

McAndrew told Harpers in June that the company aimed to drive its turnover up from £8.5 million to £15 million in the next five years.

Bancroft Wines won Best Overall Agent/Distributor of the Year Small for companies with a turnover of less than £10 million in the 2015 Harpers Wine and Spirit Awards, 2015.