US alcohol distributor Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits has commenced a “strategic realignment” of its wine-selling business model.
The company confirmed today (16 April) that the Domaine & Estates Artisanal Wine teams in five states will be integrated into their respective divisions of Signature Fine Wines & Spirits. The markets consist of California, Florida, New York, Texas and Washington.
As part of the move, the senior VP of sales & commercial operations at Domaine & Estates, Laura DePasquale, has assumed a new position within Signature as senior VP of sales & execution for fine wine. DePasquale, a “master sommelier”, had held the role since joining the group in mid-2015.
When contacted by Global Drinks Intel, a spokesperson for Southern Glazer’s described the change as a “reorganisation and redeployment of resources, not a headcount reduction exercise”.
The group’s chief sales & marketing officer, Gene Sullivan, added: “By aligning our teams and expertise, we are elevating the Signature division as the premier fine wine selling team in the industry while continuing to deliver exceptional service and insights across the fine-wine category.”
Last month, Southern Glazer’s made two M&A-related moves, welcoming Colorado-based Eagle Rock Distributing Co and Clare Rose into the fold. Clare Rose brought with it the distribution of Anheuser-Busch’s portfolio in the Long Island area of New York.
