Enotria, London’s original Italian wine importer, has been sold for £8.2m, it emerged earlier this week.
The company, which supplies supermarkets, restaurants, bars and off-licences including Tesco, Oddbins and Sainsbury’s, sells thousands of brands across the UK.
Enotria continues to boast an extensive list of Italian wines although its portfolio has grown to include wines from across the world. It represents, among others, Krug Champagne, Tuscany’s Brolio and Barone Ricasoli, top Australian Parker Estate and Bordeaux’s Châteaux Rauzan-Ségla, Talbot and Lynch Bages.
Enotria was bought by Isis Equity Partners, a UK-based investment group, which recently sold the Fat Face clothes brand for £100m. Isis plans to consolidate Enotria’s presence across the UK.
Started by Italian entrepreneur Remo Nardone in 1972, Enotria began supplying wine to the British army, which traditionally lmited itself to claret and port. It now boasts a multi-million pound portfolio of wines from across the world.
Nardone, now 70, reportedly pockets a share of the £8.2m used to buy a majority stake in the business. He will remain a shareholder and advisor, although Isis has installed former Fat Face boss Clive Beharrell in the chairman’s seat.
Written by Oliver Styles
