Wright heads Asda team

Published: 23 July, 2008

Asda's beers, wines and spirits team is back to full strength, following a host of internal appointments.

Linsey Wright, who previously looked after the chilled food category, has joined the team as general manager for wine. She will head a buying team of four.

Senior wine buyer Philippa Carr MW (who joined last year and is the only member of the team appointed from outside the company) will look after wines from France, Champagne, sparkling wine, Chile and Argentina.

Senior wine buyer Guy Gordon will oversee Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Portugal and South Africa. Wine buyer Glenn Franklin will source from the US, Italy and Germany, with Becky Leighton looking after ros, wine boxes, organic and Fairtrade wines, Eastern Europe and England.

A spokesman for the company said: All the new buyers have been moved from other product categories and have been chosen because of their interest in, or knowledge of, wine. Carr will have the final say on all the wines listed.'

Oliver Horton heads the beers and spirits team as general manager. Harvey Lees is spirits buying manager, Jill Wilson is spirits gifts buyer and Chris Woulds is responsible for spirits marketing.

CJ Antal-Smith is beer buying manager, while Ged Futter has responsibility for beer and cider, supported by Christopher Waters who looks after beer marketing.

Caroline Bartrop, marketing manager for the Leeds-based grocer, commented: We now have an excellent mix of customer understanding, commercial acumen and wine knowledge, delivering a strong, focused team to really drive the wine category forward.'

Lee Publicity has been appointed to handle PR for the entire Asda beers, wines and spirits range.

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