oddbins owner future, oddbins administration
An Oddbins shop in London.
(Image credit: Benjamin John / Alamy)

One of the best known UK wine retailers, Oddbins, has fallen into administration, having appointed a financial advisory firm earlier this week.

Oddbins owner European Food Brokers (EFB) appointed financial advisory firm Duff & Phelps to advise it on a way forward, it was announced 28 January.

Other entities owned by EFB include Wine Cellar Trading, and Whittalls Wine Merchants.

A spokesperson for EFB told Sky News on 28 January that the company had ‘filed a notice of intention to appoint Duff & Phelps as administrators for Wine Cellar Trading Limited, Whittals Wines Merchants 1 Limited, Whittals Wines Merchants 2 Limited and EFB Retail Limited’.

According to a statement from Duff & Phelps, ‘EFB continues to trade and is not an entity that has entered into administration’.

‘The continued decline in consumer spending, pointing to a squeeze on household finances, combined with rising living and national wages have put increased pressure on retailers’ bottom lines,’

Oddbins fell into administration in 2011, and EFB has owned the chain since then.

The retailer employs around 550 people, working across 45 stores.

A series of pressures, including sterling currency weakness, stagnating consumption and greater competition from discount chains Aldi and Lidl, has exacerbated the challenges of operating in the UK wine retail market in recent years.

Story updated 1st February 2019. Additional reporting from Ellie Douglas. 

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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.