Dyer to step down from Australian Vintage UK in June

Julian Dyer, the Chief Operating Officer UK and Europe at Australian Vintage (AVL) has announced he will step down from his role at the end of June after 14 years helming the UK side of the business.

Dyer, who joined the company from Sainsbury’s, charted his time at AVL as “a wonderful learning curve”, saying he had been “privileged to have collaborated with customers and stakeholders across the industry, and across all channels (including marketing and production) and many geographies.”

Recent developments at the company include a new long-term partnership with Invivo (Graham Norton), the launch of “game-changing” small format brand, Poco Vino, and the acquisition of the MadFish brand. Other wines in the company’s portfolio include Nepenthe, McGuigan Wines, Tempus Two, Not Guilty and Barossa Valley Wine Company.

“From what was once a simpler business with basically one brand and a lot of bulk wine, I am proud that AVL is now right up there as a consumer focused, innovative wine business, with close strategic partnerships across the trade,” he said in a LinkedIn post.

Dyer said that he had enjoyed an “an amazing” 14 years at the company but was now keen to “pause… reset… and explore new ventures” in the wine industry.

He also took the opportunity to point out that we shouldn’t forget that “we work in a brilliant industry”.

“There is growth potential everywhere, whether organic, through NPD or via partnerships and acquisition. Wine isn’t in terminal decline; customer demands are just evolving (fast) and budgets are constrained,” he said.

However, he argued that the UK government wasn’t helping the industry and he wasn’t sure it ever would.

“There is simply too much tax, regulation and red tape, and a woeful lack of genuine engagement and consultation,” he said.

Global turnaround

Last week the Australia-based company released its global results which saw sales dip 1.7% in the six months to the end of December, although its UK performance grew “broadly in line” with demand for Australian wine in the UK.

The group’s turnaround plan, which involves a move away from the below A$10 per bottle sector, meant it was on track for a stronger second half however. It will largely concentrate on lowering stocks by cutting supply contracts further while “moving aggressively” into range and distribution expansion, acquisitions and innovation.”