Sainsbury’s shuffles wine team

The Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s has restructured its wine team to incorporate four new people

The Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s has restructured its wine team to incorporate four new people.
Abigail Hirschfeld joins the group of retail buyers from Direct Wines, and will be responsible for France and North America.

Melissa Draycott (right), formerly spirits and fortified wine buyer for the supermarket, will now take on Champagne and sparkling wine, as well as South Africa, while remaining responsible for fortified wine.

A further internal move will be Gemma Fraser’s shift from Sainsbury’s entertainment department to the wine team as  buyers’ assistant. She will be working alongside Andrew Bird, Italy, South America and fine wine buyer, as well as Melissa Draycott, Rachel Griffiths and Judith Jerodiaconou, the latter two from Sainsbury’s wine online. Other buyers include Julian Dyer, Australia and New Zealand; Michelle Smith, Eastern Europe and England, and Helen McEvoy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, organic and kosher wine.

Finally, Kimberley Davenport has moved from the supply chain department to replace Esther Miller as PR and marketing manager.  db February 2006