Uvine sells on-trade business to HBJ

Published: 23 July, 2008

Uvine Ltd has sold Michael Morgan, its hotel, restaurant and catering wholesale business, to Hayman Barwell Jones for an undisclosed sum - just a year after it bought the company. Christopher Burr MW, MD of Uvine, told Harpers that Michael Morgan had not performed as well as expected since its purchase and that Uvine was looking to concentrate on its online trading site. That's where the growth in our business is, and we decided it would be best to concentrate on that part of our business. Wholesaleing to the restaurant trade poses a number of difficulties,' he added. It's high cost, and you face many problems, such as late payment. It really needs a specialist approach that we are not best placed to provide.' The proceeds of the sale will be used to support Uvine's extended computing and marketing activities worldwide'. Hayman Barwell Jones, a subsidiary of Hayman Ltd, is already involved in the agency and wholesaleing wine business, and will now benefit from an increased size and product portfolio. Sales and administration staff employed at Michael Morgan will transfer to Hayman Barwell Jones to ensure a smooth transition.

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