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Spirits schools planned for independent merchants
Spirits agency Emporia Brands is launching spirits training days for independent merchants and specialist outlets across the UK.
The agency has recruited spirits expert Mark Ridgwell, who has 30 years trade experience, to head up the training.
Aiming to tell the "quality story" behind each category, the course, which ends with an examination, covers responsible drinking, how to taste spirits and classic cocktail demonstrations.
Ridgwell will also run a new staff spirits school at rescued high street wine chain Wine Rack, which currently operates 20 stores across the UK. Its first one day course will begin on 24 February.
Every manager and senior assistant in the company will attend the course and take the examination, gaining a WSET Foundation certificate in spirits.
Yorkshire-based wine specialist Rhythm & Booze is set to run a series of training days starting in March, while the Voodoo Rooms in Edinburgh is offering a class for managers and owners from over 20 independent wine merchants.
“The specialist sector has changed massively in the last 18 months, following the crash of First Quench, which at one time had over 3,000 outlets. But from all these changes has emerged a vibrant group of passionate independent retailers, whose enthusiastic staff are hungry for knowledge they can pass on to their customers”, said James Rackham, chairman of Emporia Brands.
Lucy Shaw, 24.01.2011