Shane Allchin, managing director (left) and Damian Ganes, national sales executive at Meridian Wine Merchants (right)
WBS is an Australian based company that conducts wine business specific research in 15 countries. Meridian Wine Merchants has been rated top distributor in their On Premise report three times, demonstrating their commitment to service excellence in On Consumption as a core strategic focus for wine producers to grow their visibility and influence in the market. Meridian’s efforts extend beyond listings, providing ongoing support, wine and service training, and tailored brand placement and promotional opportunities.
According to the WBS 2024 report, Meridian is the market leader in South African hospitality growing from 22,5% to 23.7% share of all wine listings. "This is thanks to our trusted partnerships with our customers and an expert understanding of what they need to deliver excellent service to their guests,“ says national sales executive, Damian Ganes. "We make sure that the right wines are listed in the right venues, aligning our producers’ brand strategies with consumer demands across restaurants, hotels, pubs, game lodges, and other key on-consumption settings nationwide, elevating service experiences and ultimately strengthening South Africa’s wine category as a whole.”
WBS increased its data analysis of a total of 40,000 listings to now close to 60,000 individual wine listings across 4,119 establishments. Meridian’s impact has grown alongside the demand for premium, well-positioned brands, expanding their portfolio to 46 premium wine brands, up from 39 last year.
"Our 'best people, best brands, best service' approach is integral to our success," says managing director, Shane Allchin. "We are thrilled by this affirmation of our focus on the on-consumption channel that is not just our starting point, but also the foundation from which we elevate our brands across the market and reinforce our position as the go-to wine advisor to the hospitality industry in South Africa."
For further information, please email info@groupmeridian.co.za or follow us on on Facebook, Instagram and X/Twitter.