champagne retailers, retailers, wine merchants,
champagne retailers, retailers, wine merchants,
(Image credit: champagne retailers, retailers, wine merchants)

Nick Baile MW, regarded as a seminal figure in UK wine retailing for his leadership of the Oddbins chain, has died.

Baile passed away on 9 October after a short illness, his family announced. He was 81 and had spent his entire working life in the wine trade, becoming the 33rd Master of Wine in 1961.

‘His vision was clear to try, wherever possible, to buy direct, to be innovative and to have the best trained staff,’ said his son, Simon Baile. ‘He was a wonderfully energetic man and will be sadly missed.’

Oddbins has also epitomised the precarious nature of the UK’s independent wine trade at various points in the last few decades.

In 2011, the group fell into administration, after Simon Baile’s failed effort to revive the chain, which was already struggling when he took ownership in 2008. Today, the brand survives with a smaller network of shops under the ownership of EFB Group.

Written by Chris Mercer

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Chris Mercer
Chris Mercer

Chris Mercer is a Bristol-based freelance editor and journalist who spent nearly four years as digital editor of Decanter.com, having previously been Decanter’s news editor across online and print.

He has written about, and reported on, the wine and food sectors for more than 10 years for both consumer and trade media.

Chris first became interested in the wine world while living in Languedoc-Roussillon after completing a journalism Masters in the UK. These days, his love of wine commonly tests his budgeting skills.

Beyond wine, Chris also has an MSc in food policy and has a particular interest in sustainability issues. He has also been a food judge at the UK’s Great Taste Awards.