Tanners boosts trade team

UK wine merchant Tanners is looking to expand its wholesale business after boosting its trade team.

Tanner’s chairman James Tanner with new trade sales associate director Julian MacDonald

The Shropshire-based business, which is still family-run, has appointed Bibendum’s Julian MacDonald as an associate trade sales director to drive the wine category of the Tanner’s trade channel, and build on the company’s “steady growth”.

A spokesman told db the company had seen sales growth every year over the past six years and the business was on track to record another year of growth this year.

“Currently the wholesale and trade business makes up over 50% of sales and we are looking to carry on growing this area, which is why we are delighted Julian has joined Tanners,” she said. 

MacDonald, who spent 16 years at Bibendum, will work alongside trade sales director Adrian Patterson to develop new clients in the UK.

“At Tanners, we offer a compelling proposition of award-winning products, great service and expert support, and I’m looking forward to bringing that proposition to new clients,” he said.

Patterson said MacDonald’s wealth of experience to the role would provide valuable input to develop operational and sales strategies to further strengthen the Tanners team.

In 2017 the retailer, which operates six shops across Shropshire, mid-Wales and the north west, celebrated its 175^th birthday.

According to accounts filed at Companies House, in the year to May 2018, the company saw turnover increase by 1.7% to £20.5million, up from £20.1m the previous years, but its gross profit margin was hit by the weakness of sterling compared to the Euro and competitive pricing in the sector, with profit after tax down from £522,338 to £394,905.