New UK wine and spirits distributor launches

By Lisa Riley

Published: 12 April, 2018

A new wine and spirits distribution company has been launched with the aim of encouraging a much broader range of consumers to try wine.

Two Thirsty Bulldogs, a privately funded company set up by the owner of thewinedrinker.co.uk – Sultan Rashid, is currently in the process of building up its portfolio, which it said would be focused on “innovation and drinks with a difference”.

The initial portfolio includes Gik, the Spanish innovator of blue wine, Fragolino, a strawberry infused Frizzante, and the Poet range of wine and tea blends, which includes Merlot with Chai Masala and Grenache with Earl Grey.

In addition, the start-up represents Italian wine producer, Villa Oppi, and Wild June - a Western style gin with junipers foraged from the West Texas mountains.

With all current products new to the UK market, the privately-funded company was actively targeting innovative winemakers worldwide, said Rashid, adding once the launch was complete, it would be looking for additional funding to assist in driving growth.

“The wine trade talks a great deal about innovation and engaging with consumers, but I see few products which excite younger consumers, particularly millennials, who are not currently drinking wine,” he said.

On the back of seeing strong demand for the Gik Blue wine and Villa Oppi’s Fragolino through its own direct to consumer website, the time was right to launch Two Thirsty Bulldogs as a separate trade distribution arm,” added Rashid.

“We will be focusing on selling direct to the national on and off-trade and using regional wholesalers for distribution throughout the UK,” he said.

In addition to the distribution venture, Rashid has bought an independent wine and spirits retail merchant located in Buckhurst Hill, which is poised to open in May, renamed The Wine Drinker.

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