Fine wine group VSPT has announced the launch of a new subsidiary – VSPT UK – to boost the distribution of Chilean and Argentinian wines on UK shores.
Comprised of some of the most influential wineries from Chile and Argentina, VSPT Wine Group has made a strategic decision to increase sales in its key markets. Early last year, the company announced plans to establish a new branch in the United States, while its branch in China was launched in January 2023.
Now, the newly formed VSPT UK will focus on developing the group's premium portfolio in the UK.
The UK team will be led by Christian Le Dantic, who has worked at VSPT for 18 years. Marcela Burgos, WSET teacher and MW candidate, will be Area Sales Manager, while John Hearn, who has over 30 years' experience in the UK wine trade, will be responsible for developing the business strategy.
The recently signed partnership with packaging giant Encirc for all of VSPT's UK packaging and warehousing operations “will provide an efficient route to market, allowing the subsidiary to package some of VSPT's most popular brands locally,” the company said. Favorite UK wine labels include San Pedro, Gravegna, Viña Lleida and Tarapaca.
Speaking about the move to prioritize the UK, Le Dantic said: “The UK is a key market for us. We are confident that this new strategy and route to market will help us improve flexibility in terms of logistics and provide best-in-class services. Our ambition It is to become the partner of choice for retailers as we continue to work with our existing importers and distributors, such as Enotria & Coe, who have an important role in our distribution strategy.
The group's new UK arm will also help build on VSPT's sustainability goals, with the parent company already demonstrating its commitment to environmental stewardship through its early membership of the IWCA, the Sustainable Wine Roundtable, and its goal to become fully carbon neutral by 2050, from vineyard to market.
“Being close to our partners and building brands together is key to differentiating and growing our business. We have been developing this model for two years and are confident of our new strategy being implemented in the UK,” says German Del Río, Global Sales Director of VSPT.
