PLB Group Ltd

Founded in 1982, PLB remains an independent family wine business, albeit now the largest in the UK, selling over 11m 9 litre cases of wine and beer and turning over around £142 million a year.
History
Back in 1982 when the market was dominated by Old World wines, Jeffrey Fredericks saw an opportunity. He originally began by supplying the supermarkets with own-label Spanish fortified wines - and the company PLB was established. Since then the business has built on the Chairman's remarkable success and expanded the PLB portfolio throughout the wine producing world, resulting in a fantastic diverse offering from some of the world's biggest and best producers.
As the world of wine has changed, PLB has evolved with it and has moved from predominantly supplying own label wines to becoming agents for some of the top wine brands in the UK. In August 2009, PLB acquired another wine business called HwCg. The two businesses had complimentary supplier portfolios, which when brought together, formed an exceptionally strong range, enhancing the PLB portfolio with brands such as Blason de Bourgogne, Laurent Miquel, Plaimont, Montes and Kautz. More recently, further prestigious agencies have joined the business, including McWilliam's and Brown Brothers.
The team
Since PLB started out in 1982, the business has grown into an 90-strong team, comprising buyers, logistics and account management operations, marketing expertise and category insight. The management team is Peter Darbyshire (MD), Jeffrey Fredericks (Chairman),Simon Fredericks (Executive Chairman), John Osborne (Sales Director), Jonathan Newton (Operations Director), Stephen Walder (Technical Director), James Burston (Business Development Director), Robin waters (Finance Director).
Business structure
2012 has seen a restructure of the company with channel alignment across the whole business. Under the new structure, the sales side of the business has been sub-divided into five different categories, each managed by a channel controller and headed up by Sales & Marketing Director John Osborne. These categories are: UK major multiple retailers; high street and specialist multiples; the specialist symbol groups and wholesale; and long alcoholic drinks including beers, ginger beers, and specialist ciders.
Supplier base
The company's supplier base has extended across Europe and into the Americas, Australasia and South Africa. Key brands and wineries are: Blason de Bourgogne, Laurent Miquel, Plaimont, Fromont, GVC, Piccini, Enoitalia, Montes, Kautz, Kaiken, Vina Ventisquero, Vergelegen, Spier, Brown Brothers, McWilliams, Grove Mill, Sacred Hill.
PLB Group Ltd was formerly known as Private Liquor Brands Ltd.

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