Blandy & Blandy has advised Reading-based Winchester Wines Group, which includes Milton Sandford Wines and The Secret Cellar, on the company’s sale to The Heritage Wine Company, based in Lancashire.
Milton Sandford Wines has been supplying boutique wines to leading hotels, restaurants and other venues since 1990, and the company bought The Secret Cellar, a chain of wine shops in Kent, Surrey and Sussex, in 2016.
Corporate partner Peter Woolley led the Blandy & Blandy team which advised Winchester Wines Group, with support from Emma Ford in the firm’s Corporate & Commercial team and Paul Wilkinson in the Commercial Property team.
John Winchester, the former CEO of Winchester Wines Group, said: “Blandy & Blandy’s consistent, unwavering advice and support throughout the contracting process were invaluable in ensuring that fairness was obtained for all of the stakeholders of Winchester Wines Employment Ownership Trust. They acted professionally and diligently, at all hours, to secure the outcome that provides all of the team members a bright future moving forward.”
Peter commented: “Having previously advised Winchester Wines Group Limited on the acquisition of The Secret Cellar Limited in 2016, we were delighted to act for Winchester Wines EOT Ltd on this transaction, which is another step towards the increasing market consolidation in the UK wine trade and retail market. This was an interesting and rewarding transaction, which was completed to a challenging deadline. We wish Winchester Wines and Heritage every success going forward.”
Miles Corish, co-founder of The Heritage Wine Company, described the acquisition as "a major step forward in our vision to set new standards of excellence in the wine industry" and a move that will give the company “a southern foothold”.
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