REG - Distil PLC - COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR APPOINTED, UK DISTRIBUTOR MOVE

DistilAnnouncement

06/07/2022 07:00

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RNS Number : 4327R  Distil PLC  06 July 2022

DISTIL APPOINTS COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR AS IT ANNOUNCES MOVE FROM UK DISTRIBUTOR

 

New position of Commercial Director created to support accelerated growth
ambitions

 

Distil Plc (AIM: DIS), owner of premium drinks brands RedLeg Spiced Rum,
Blackwoods Gin and Vodka, TRØVE Botanical Vodka, Blavod Black Vodka, and Diva
Vodka has today announced the appointment of Commercial Director, Alex Baker,
as it remodels for accelerated growth.

 

The announcement has been made in conjunction with the news that Distil will
be entering a new distribution agreement with Marussia Beverages UK, following
the decision to withdraw its portfolio of spirits from long-term UK
distributor, Hi-Spirits.

 

APPOINTMENT OF COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR

Alex Baker brings a wealth of experience to the business. Having begun his
sales career at Nestle Purina, Alex moved into the drinks industry with an
appointment at William Grant & Sons, where he led the commercial delivery
of key retail partners including Sainsbury's, Morrisons & Waitrose,
building long term, profit growth for brands such as Glenfiddich, Hendricks
& Sailor Jerry.

 

Recently, Alex has held the position of Business Unit Controller, Grocery,
eCommerce, Convenience and Discounters at Hi-Spirits, where he was responsible
for leading a team and delivering off-trade performance across a broad
portfolio, including Distil brands.

 

Alex will play a pivotal role in delivering Distil's growth ambitions as it
remodels its business. He will be responsible for directly managing major UK
off-trade customers, as well as leading the continued drive to expand and open
new export markets.

 

Alex Baker comments: "I've greatly enjoyed working closely with the Distil
team during my time at Hi-Spirits. The portfolio of brands is strong and
resonates well with consumers, and I'm excited to now bring my experience to
the team full-time to help drive the business forward at such an exciting
time."

 

DISTIL TAKES DIRECT CONTROL OF MAJOR CUSTOMERS

The appointment of Alex as Commercial Director is announced in conjunction
with the news that Distil will be parting ways with UK distributor Hi-Spirits,
with whom it has worked closely with over the last eight years.

 

Dedicating commercial resource internally through the creation of Alex's
position has enabled this important change, and will allow Distil to take
direct ownership of servicing its major UK customers.

 

The move will give Distil direct contact with customers, allowing for closer
and more agile account management, control of promotional planning and
delivery of strategically aligned brand plans to drive visibility and growth,
as well as providing the opportunity to reduce costs at a time of increasing
pressures across the supply chain, which is expected to continue in the near
term.

 

SERVICING THE ON-TRADE

The on-trade is a fragmented but important sector for the spirits market and
plays a pivotal role in brand building. In order to effectively service the UK
on-trade within its new business model, Distil is delighted to announce a new
partnership with Marussia Beverages, which will come into effect from 1
October 2022.

 

Part of the Swiss-based Marussia Beverages Group, Marussia is the UK's leading
artisanal spirits business with a strong portfolio of authentic premium brands
including Hatozaki and Torabhaig Whiskies, Mozart Chocolate Liqueur and Akashi
Sake.

 

The team will focus on building on-trade distribution and promotion across the
Distil portfolio as hospitality recovers post-Covid, as well as managing
national on-trade retail and the wholesale channel. The team will also play a
key role in successful New Product Development.

 

Trevenon Weeks, MD Marussia Beverages UK, said; "We're excited to have Distil
brands in our portfolio which fit well within our broad range of high-quality
products for the on-trade. We look forward to working closely with the team to
see where we can take the brands."

 

COMMENT FROM EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN

Don Goulding, Executive Chairman, comments: "We are excited to welcome Alex
Baker to the team in the newly created role of Commercial Director, directly
responsible for all sales across domestic and international markets.

 

His wide experience within the premium spirits market and close knowledge of
our brands and customers is invaluable to help drive our business forward and
deliver strong results to support our growth ambitions.

 

We are also delighted to announce the distribution agreement with Marussia
Beverages UK. Aligning with our ambitions, we're confident that Marussia
Beverages UK is the right on-trade distribution partner for our brands, and
look forward to working closely with MD, Trevenon Weeks, and his teams to
increase our on-trade and regional retail brand presence and activities.

 

Hi-Spirits has been a valuable partner for Distil over the last eight years
and played a supporting role in helping us to build our brand availability in
the earlier stages. We thank the team for everything they have done to support
our business.

 

This significant change represents part of a wider business remodel for
Distil. Providing undistracted focus on Distil's portfolio of brands, it will
help us to manage cost increases more easily, and better serve our customers
to deliver accelerated growth plans."

 

For further information:

 

 Distil PLC
 Don Goulding, Executive Chairman            Tel +44 203 405 0475

 Shaun Claydon, Finance Director
 SPARK Advisory Partners Limited (NOMAD
 Neil Baldwin                                Tel +44 20 3368 3550

 Mark Brady
 Turner Pope Investments (TPI) Ltd (Broker)
 Andy Thacker / James Pope                   Tel +44 20 3657 0050

 

About Distil

Distil Plc is quoted on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange. It owns
drinks brands in a number of sectors of the alcoholic drinks market. These
include premium spiced rum, vodka, gin, vodka vanilla cream liqueur and are
called RedLeg Spiced Rum. Blackwoods Vintage Gin, Blackwoods Vodka, TRØVE
Botanical Vodkas, Blavod Original Black Vodka and Diva Vodka.

 

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION AS STIPULATED UNDER THE UK
VERSION OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION NO 596/2014 WHICH IS PART OF ENGLISH
LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018, AS AMENDED.  ON
PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS
INFORMATION IS CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

 

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