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Major UK distributor Western Wines to close

UK agency, importer and wholesaler Western Wines, owned by US-based Constellation Brands, will cease trading at the beginning of October.

Based in Telford, Shropshire, Western Wines is a subsidiary of Vincor, the Canadian wine conglomerate that was purchased by Constellation in June 2006, for a reported US$1.3b (£750m).

Western Wines brands include Kumala (South Africa); Kim Crawford (New Zealand) and Hogue Cellars (Washington State), in addition to Inniskillin and Jackson-Triggs (Canada), which were assumed as part of the takeover of Vincor.

Constellation Europe, which has offices in Guildford and Bristol, indicated that Western Wines brands and activities would move in-house, but did not say whether any Western Wines employees would be offered employment with Constellation.

Constellation has stated that it is in the process of consolidating and streamlining its operations in Europe.

Decanter.com understands Western Wines employed about 70 people.

Neither Western Wines nor Constellation would comment further.

Related stories:

Constellation swallows Vincor

Constellation invests in European operations

Written by Maggie Rosen

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