Co-op loads work on buyer

The recent sale of my ex-employers, Somerfield, to the Co-op, brought to my mind thoughts of the additional work and pressure that the buyers from both organisations are now under. Leaving aside the major concerns of job losses and redundancies, the workload for the already overworked buyer intensifies further.

In the early days, it will be business as usual for both teams. As the integration begins, so does the task of amalgamation of range, and review of supply base. I speak with the experience of having been involved in the Somerfield/Kwiksave merger.

Weeks, days, hours of pulling together best working practices, looking at logistics, ways of working, strategy - but, most importantly, the pulling together of two ranges into one.

My thoughts are more on the own brand and exclusive side of the businesses, where trading relationships may have been built and maintained for years. Even trading under two fascias, as we did, the economies of scale meant a single source of supply was the given route. There followed the process of comparing quality, service level, pricing et al, and involved tasting across both ranges.

Eventually, the mix of quality and commercial benefit, will determine the outcome. However, it is only in hindsight, that one understands the potential impact of this process on suppliers, particularly smaller suppliers of premium wines, or own brand, whose business may have been built, or relies on this one particular account's business. This is always a time of uncertainty for them, and the pressure added by the current economic downturn, and tightening of the purse strings, will not make this any easier. For small producers, this can be make or break time.

Over recent years, Somerfield and Co-op have punched above their weight in terms of accolades for their own brand and exclusive ranges - and the Co-op for their outstanding work and championing of Fairtrade wines. I'll watch the integration with interest.

Angela Mount is a wine consultant and director of Great Western Wine

• Harpers Says...