Societe Jacques Bollinger (“SJB”), the Family Group behind Bollinger Champagne, have agreed a strategic partnership with a minority investment into BI Wines & Spirits (“BI”), the UK’s leading specialist fine wine merchant, which is chaired by ICAP and NEX founder Lord Spencer of Alresford.
The investment will fund further growth of BI’s online wine trading platform, LiveTrade, in addition to providing access to SJB’s decades of industry expertise. SJB will benefit from increased exposure to BI’s unique knowledge and understanding of the global fine wine market.
Etienne Bizot, Chairman and CEO of SJB, commented:
“This is the beginning of a new partnership with Gary Boom and his team during which we will learn more about consumers’ expectations and the development of the fine wine market. It will allow us to propose unique tailor-made experiences that will enable consumers to interact with our wines and our wineries.”said Etienne Bizot, Chairman and CEO of SJB, the holding company of Bollinger and Ayala Champagne, Chanson Père & Fils in Burgundy, Langlois-Chateau in the Loire Valley and Delamain in Cognac.
“It is a long-term strategic move for us; in addition to the investment it represents, we believe fine wine consumers will increasingly wish to be connected to the Estates that they follow and the Bollinger family wishes to lead initiatives that will enable a deeper understanding of our unique terroir and style. In addition, it will allow us to understand the fine wine market which is of growing importance to our family’s business and which will be a key driver of future growth. We are willing to invest behind the creation of new experiences for our fine wine consumers to achieve this growth and to develop the equity of our brands.”
Gary Boom, Managing Director of BI, added:
“Today celebrates the union of two leading wine businesses looking to cement their global reach. We are very excited to welcome SJB as a long-term shareholder of BI and look forward to the mutual benefits which this partnership will deliver. We have long been committed to changing the fine wine market and this investment will allow us to continue to grow our LiveTrade platform, the only marketplace which guarantees two-way prices on over 500 top fine wines.”