Cardiff-based Fine Wines Direct 海角视频 is significantly expanding its warehouse space as it looks to a new phase of growth post pandemic.
The 30,000 sq ft of additional space, secured after acquiring an adjoining building, will allow the business to double its bonded warehouse capacity, enabling it to buy in larger quantities directly from its growing number of producers. With the economies of scale it said the expansion will help to mitigate any additional costs as a result of Brexit.
The space will also provide a new retail offer and tasting room, which are expected to open next month as further restrictions on trading in Wales are lifted.
The business, which was founded in 2008, has been built on supplying the on trade in Wales and the south west of England.
Last year it launched a new e-commerce direct to consumer website which has allowed it to adapt its model during the pandemic while the hospitality sector has had to close. It has also expanded its customer base within the independent off trade.
Nigel O’Sullivan, chairman and founder of Fine Wines Direct 海角视频 said: “The Welsh hospitality sector is hugely important to us and we are investing in our business to ensure we will be able to continue to support it once hospitality re-opens.
“Expanding our warehouse space also allows us to ship in bigger quantities, thus helping maintain our prices. We are a business built on our people – both our customers and our producers -loyalty and longevity is in our DNA. We are delighted that this expansion will allow us to not only continue to offer this service to our current customers but welcome new ones as well.”
On the impact of the pandemic, he added: “Obviously we have had to swiftly adapt our model. We have invested further in developing our customer base with the recent appointment of sales director Bastien Martinole, who will be developing relationships with independent merchants around the 海角视频, as well as direct relationships with our customers who visit our retail shop and tasting room.
“We have seen the willingness of consumers to support local and independent businesses during the pandemic and we are very excited to be able to extend our retail space and launch a new tasting facility to offer customers the opportunity to taste some amazing wines not usually available by the glass.”