Hallgarten & Novum Wines appoints head of operations to steer growth
Specialist wine importer Hallgarten & Novum Wines has appointed Julien Lever as its first head of operations. The move comes after a period of rapid expansion that has seen the company significantly grow its team and supplier base.
Lever (pictured) will oversee the integration of sales and planning operations, covering distribution, stock management and customer service. His appointment marks a new phase in Hallgarten’s organisational development after what the company describes as a year of “substantial growth,” during which it added over 30 new suppliers and more than 20 new hires in 2025.
Andrew Bewes, managing director, reflected on the appointment amidst the business’s fast-paced recruitment drive: “In what is now a sustained period of growth for Hallgarten, recruiting and retaining the best people is critical to our continued success. Our relentless focus on customer service and getting the basics right remains paramount and we are delighted to announce the appointment of Julien Lever to the newly created role of head of operations.”
Industry experience and expertise
Lever’s background includes senior planning and supply chain roles at Oddbins and Accolade Wines, where he spent nine years as director of global sales and operations planning. More recently, he worked as lead consultant at Windwhistle Consulting for four years.
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He said, “I am delighted to be joining Hallgarten, and I look forward to working closely with the team, our customers and suppliers at this exciting time of growth for the business. The Hallgarten portfolio is second to none, and I am excited to have the opportunity to further build on our service offering, as well as our collaborative planning processes and partnerships.”
Consolidating growth after acquisition
The appointment follows a major period of expansion since Hallgarten was acquired by Coterie Holdings in December 2023. As previously reported by the drinks business, the company has added 18 new team members in the first half of 2025 alone, spanning sales, brand management, marketing, customer service, logistics and finance.
Hallgarten’s headcount has risen by almost 50% in just 18 months, from around 100 staff at the beginning of 2024 to close to 150 today. Bewes has previously described the period as “transformational,” adding that the company has invested heavily in systems and people to ensure it maintains customer service standards alongside growth.
Building resilience in a shifting market
The momentum behind Hallgarten shows no signs of slowing. With further roles advertised and the UK trade still adjusting to new duty regimes, the company is seeking to reinforce its standing across premium hospitality, independent wine merchants, retail and events.
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I worked with Julien when he was at Oddbins and I at the Oddbins/Sainsburys JV – top guy, will be an asset to their team.