Hallgarten MD steps down after 16 years in post
Coterie Holdings has announced the upcoming departure of Hallgarten & Novum Wines managing director Andrew Bewes who will step down on 31 March 2026 after a 16-year tenure.
Bewes will not be directly replaced with a new managing director at Hallgarten Wines, db discovered this morning. Instead, Coterie Group will implement two management boards to support both the strategic direction and day-to-day management of the business.
The first, a Hallgarten Supervisory Board, will provide strategic oversight and leadership to set business parameters. A second board, the Hallgarten Management Board, will manage and run the business on a day-to-day basis. Both boards will consist of delegates from across both the Hallgarten and Coterie senior team.
Bewes joined Hallgarten & Novum Wines as managing director in 2009 following three years as commercial director at Liberty Wines.
Under Bewes’ leadership the specialist wine distributor won The Drinks Business Drinks Company of the Year in 2023. At the most recent db Awards, held in 2025, Hallgarten & Novum Wines was named The Drinks Business Drinks Supplier of the Year 2025 and On-Trade Supplier of the Year 2025.
Partner Content
Coterie Holdings purchased the business, which was originally established in 1933, in 2023 and Bewes has remained in post throughout the transition.
“Leading Hallgarten has been the absolute privilege of my career,” said Bewes. “I am immensely proud of the passionate, dedicated team we have built and everything we have accomplished together. Following the successful integration with Coterie Holdings, the business is poised for its next chapter of growth, and the time is right for me to pass the baton. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our outstanding team, our loyal customers, and our world-class producer partners for their support over the years.”
Turnover at Hallgarten is projected to surpass £100 million by the end of the year, the company has said.
Coterie Holdings CEO Michael Saunders said of Bewes ahead of his departure: “His vision has built Hallgarten into the benchmark for quality and service in the UK wine trade. He has been a pivotal partner during the acquisition and has laid an outstanding foundation for future success. We wish him the very best for the future.”
Earlier this month, Coterie announced it was strengthening its presence in Asia with the acquisition of wine merchant Links Concept in Hong Kong. Read more here.
Related news
Rías Baixas achieves record sales in the US
RoboDrop: can driverless cars rescue US booze sales?
Wines of Hungary targets Korean consumers for International Aszú Day
