Scots wine firm Wm Morton buys Inverarity Vaults

Published: 06 July, 2011

Two of Scotland's top wine businesses have joined forces as independent merchant Inverarity Vaults has been bought by on-trade drinks supplier Wm Morton.

The new business will benefit from increased buying power and a wider product range, and aims to build on Inverarity's success outside of Scotland.

Hamish Martin, managing director of Inverarity Vaults, said his business has been sold to Wm Morton for an undisclosed sum. The firms will be merged to form Scotland's largest independent drinks supplier with a combined turnover of more than £50 million and a workforce of 150. Martin said the new business would have better distribution capabilities - both run warehouse facilities and in-house logistics operations - and dedicated staff training provision.

Inverarity Vaults, founded in 1991, will continue to trade as an autonomous subsidiary of Wm Morton for the foreseeable future, while retail business One to One will be protected as a going concern. Martin will join Morton's managing director, Stephen Russell, on the board of directors.

A priority for the firm will be to merge Inverarity's portfolio with Cheviot Fine Fines, Morton's incumbent wine division, by the beginning of 2012. Martin said that after this period, some head office functions will need to be integrated to maximise efficiency.

"We have worked hard to become number one independent wine supplier in Scotland and we got there because we put our clients first and we feel great pride in what we have achieved," he said.

"As a family business with over 60 years experience in the trade, Morton's shares our outlook and beliefs and understands the need to safeguard what we have established. It really will be 'business as usual' as far as our clients are concerned and that was a key driver in our accepting the deal," added Martin.

Russell said: "Combining the talents of two Scottish companies will strengthen and sustain our position in today's marketplace and open the door to tremendous opportunities. Increased buying power, improved efficiencies and an enhanced portfolio of products will lead to a better offering for our enlarged customer base. And as Inverarity already has many customers south of the border, this bigger and better wine distributor will create more potential for success in the rest of the UK."

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