C&C Group has merged Matthew Clark and Bibendum to “simplify” its on-trade distribution operations.
A “small number” of staff have left C&C as part of the move, which the UK-listed group said would be completed this summer.
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Matthew Clark distributes products including beer, wine and spirits to UK on-premise clients. Bibendum, meanwhile, focuses on wine.
“There are areas of crossover, particularly in wine, which has informed the move,” a C&C spokesperson said.
The new business – Matthew Clark Bibendum – will help the company’s customers “drive profitable growth in an evolving hospitality landscape”, the spokesperson added. “To better serve customers and strengthen our position in wine, we are integrating the Matthew Clark and Bibendum businesses into a single customer proposition. This will give customers access to our full range, through one route to market, one aligned, specialist team, while removing unnecessary duplication.”
C&C is set to publish its annual financial results for the year to the end of February next Tuesday (19 May).
In January, the Tennent’s and Orchard Pig owner cut its profit forecast amid “weak” consumer confidence in the UK.
C&C said at the time “customer performance” in November and early December had been hit by “weak consumer confidence associated with the November UK Budget”. There had, the company said, been “softer than anticipated demand” in the hospitality sector. Drinkers were switching from wine and spirits to beer, it added.
Asked today if C&C was looking for cost savings from the combination of Matthew Clark and Bibendum, the spokesperson said: “This proposal is being driven by our stated objective to simplify the business to better serve our customers and suppliers and, whilst cost efficiency is a factor, it is not the primary driver.”
An undisclosed number of sales staff have departed. “The integration of Matthew Clark and Bibendum has been considered as part of a broader programme of simplification and improvement across the business,” the spokesperson added. “A small number of colleagues from the Matthew Clark and Bibendum sales teams have been impacted by the changes and following a consultation period have left the business.”
