Coterie Holdings acquires Hallgarten & Novum Wines

Fine wine business Coterie Holdings has bought wine importers Hallgarten & Novum Wines for an undisclosed sum.

The acquisition sees Hallgarten & Novum Wines join fine wine merchant Lay & Wheeler, bonded storage facility Coterie Vaults and wine lending business Jera as part of the Coterie Holdings group.

Andrew Bewes, MD for Hallgarten & Novum Wines and Howard Falk, Hallgarten's CFO, will continue to lead the business.

The news follows the recent appointment of Michael Saunders as CEO of Coterie Holdings who will take up the role from January 2024.

Saunders said: "We are delighted to welcome Hallgarten into the Coterie family. A best-in-class business, as recognised by this year's trophies from the International Wine Challenge, Drinks Business and the IWSC, Hallgarten's addition to the group complements the other industry leading businesses already part of Coterie's portfolio.

"With Hallgarten's leading premium trade distribution, together with the long-standing relationships developed by the fine wine team at Lay & Wheeler, Coterie can now provide an unparalleled multi-channel offer to fine wine customers throughout the on and off trade.

Bewes, who has held the MD position at Hallgarten since 2009, added: "Hallgarten is a natural fit in the portfolio of premium wine businesses which offer obvious benefits and natural synergies to ensure our continued growth and success. Coterie fully back what we are doing in the market, and with the support of the wider group, I am looking forward to really accelerating our growth plans."