Specialist UK business HT Drinks is continuing its acquisitional development following the buy-out of Fareham based global travel retail (GTR) company Compass Supply Solutions (CSS) announced today.
HT Drinks, the UK’s largest independent and specialist drinks wholesaler, said the move strengthens its focus on international growth.
Crucially, the deal also provides a platform for CSS to leverage strategic brand partnerships and drive operational efficiencies. This is in line with the company’s repositioning as a key business infrastructure partner in supplying specialist drinks and ambient foods to cruise lines, airlines, airside consolidators, terminal concessions and duty free retailers.
As part of the acquisition, former Tesco Beers, Wines & Spirits Category Director and Majestic Chief Operating Officer Rob Cooke has joined the group as CSS Managing Director.
Cooke, named The Drinks Business Man of the Year 2020, played a pivotal role in wine specialist Majestic’s turnaround and in spearheading the growth of its commercial on-trade and national accounts, HT Drinks Group said.
The HT Drinks Group Board commented, “The acquisition of CSS is a further commitment in our ambition to be a truly integrated, multi-channel drinks business.
“We are effectively providing our brand partners with an insightful and transparent closed-loop route to market that covers the on-trade, off-trade, direct to consumer, online marketplaces, gifting and in-house planning and marketing services with our agency business.”
With a broad remit, Cooke will be responsible for building a stronger single-source proposition, particularly as the GTR sector witnesses strong tailwinds from travel recovery and structural shifts that reach far wider than conventional ‘duty free shopping at airports’ to experience-led retail, digital and pre-order growth and premiumisation.
By understanding these trends and the need to drive ancillary revenue streams, redefining the passenger experience and advancing sustainability goals, the combined group is in a market leading position to be part of a fast-moving GTR sector, the company said.
Cooke said: “As part of the HT Drinks Group, CSS will leverage internal resources and infrastructure capability to implement a resilient and sustainable growth plan that includes expanding our geographical reach, broader category development, investment in technology and supply chains and crucially, working with brand partners on core GTR ranging and NPD.”
He continued, ”We recognise more than ever the need to connect passenger trends and their consumption needs with an ethically responsible and diverse portfolio of drinks and food, as we effectively transition to becoming a vital infrastructure partner to our clients that is far more than a product or service.” ✈
About HT Drinks Group
Founded in 1985, HT Drinks Group is one of the largest independent specialist drinks businesses in the UK. Partnering direct with all the major global drinks companies, HT Drinks Group operates in wholesale, on-trade, off-trade, direct to consumer, online market places, gifting and drinks agency & distribution. It boasts a mix of own label brands and exclusive brand distribution agreements globally.
About Compass Supply Solutions
Compass Supply Solutions is a leading UK drinks and ambient foods supply partner to the cruise industry, airlines & airports, rail, travel retail and hospitality.
