Australian Vintage is set to assume distribution of New Zealand winemaker Invivo’s portfolio across the UK and Ireland.
The five-year agreement, announced this week, covers the latter’s Graham Norton, Invivo X SJP (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Invivo ranges, with the handover scheduled to begin once Invivo’s existing UK arrangements have concluded. Global Drinks Intel has contacted both companies for details of the current distribution tie-up.
The partnership is expected to contribute around 500,000 cases annually and strengthen Invivo’s position with major off-premise operators in both markets, according to Australian Vintage.
The collaboration underscores the producer’s strategy to use its “global scale and retailer relationships” to grow shareholder value, according to CEO Tom Dusseldorp. “Through partnerships like this, Australian Vintage can strategically grow the company’s brand portfolio in desirable wine segments while driving innovation and protecting its core brands,” he added.
In August, Invivo, which debuted in 2008 and rose to prominence through tie-ups with Irish talk show host Graham Norton and American actor Sarah Jessica Parker, received financial backing from Indevin Group as it looks to expand further in international markets.
