Unwins rejig sparks jobs, stores cull

Unwins Wine Group is consolidating its sales and marketing operations and slashing 53 head office jobs in a restructure, after it was bought by venture capitalist DM Private Equity. The changes will also lead to the closure of 41 high street stores.

The marketing division will remain centralised, despite the creation of four core business units. Unwins marketing director Ian McLernon’s role has been enlarged to take in sales. He will also have responsibility for investing in brands and the retail operations, covering all four new divisions.

The four new divisions are retail, brands, wholesale and logistics. Unwins is the core retail arm, operating 382 stores in the South-east; Phillips, Newman & Co, the brands division, has responsibility for over 20 product brands and two dedicated retail outlets; PN Wholesale is the drinks wholesale operation; and UDS is the group’s logistics division.

Phillip Cook, chairman of UW Acquisitions and the Unwins Wine Group, says: “We have conducted a thorough review of the organisational structure, business plan, and objectives of Unwins and firmly believe that this strategy will restore the group to profitability.”

Recommended

A fearsome fob for keyring yobs

Marketing Week

When Dr Klaus Maerten hurt his foot in a skiing accident, he can have had no idea that the air-cushioned shoe he invented with his friend Dr Funck using old rubber tyres would have had such an impact on popular culture. Without their trusty Doc Martens, how would the mods and rockers have stoved each […]

EasyJet targets businessmen with Financial Times spoof

Marketing Week

EasyJet is creating a one-off spoof of the Financial Times in a bid to promote its service to businessmen. The Flynancial Times will be carried and read by bowler-hatted, besuited men on public transport around central London today (Wednesday). The paper will be printed in the familiar pink of financial pages. It will carry easyJet […]