Venus develops Birmingham RDC and appoints head of buying

Venus Wine and Spirits Merchants, which was acquired by Booker in June 2024, is to open a fifth distribution centre this summer.

The development of the site in Birmingham is part of Booker Group’s strategy to bolster its on-trade portfolio and expand its presence within wholesale and hospitality across UK regions. It follows the opening of a depot in Eccles in Greater Manchester earlier this year, expanding Venus’ commercial footprint in the North West region.

Additionally, Venus has boosted its senior management team with the appointment of Peter Bridge as head of buying. Bridge, who has been with Booker for five years following 10 years at Musgrave, is tasked with developing the company’s portfolio and expanding its network of winemakers, spirits producers and international brewers. Venus is also recruiting staff to add to its field sales department and support in regional depots.

Andrew Yaxley, CEO at Booker Group, said: “Since we acquired Venus in June 2024, we’ve set out ambitious growth targets, and this first phase is already reaping rewards and showing signs of success within the drinks space. The new Greater Manchester and Birmingham depots will enhance our reputation within these regional hubs and allow us to bring a whole host of premium drinks options to our hospitality customers, while investing in our long-term strategies.

“With Venus, we’re now able to offer an unmatched food and alcohol proposition and a one-stop-shop solution for customers, underpinned by our delivered and in-depot services, price lockdowns and strong customer relationships.”

Neil Jewsbury, MD at Venus Wine and Spirits Merchants, added: “This is an exciting time for us as we’re scaling up and on course for expansion. The two new depots will allow us to expand our footprint nationally and bring our range of premium wines, spirits and beers to the lively hospitality scene in these regions and beyond. We’ve always got an eye on trends, and we know premiumisation is key within drinks.

“Thanks to our agility as an on-trade drinks supplier, we’ve gained good momentum and are cementing our position in the marketplace as a leading supplier of expertly selected, premium beverages. We serve bars, pubs and restaurants across the country, and we’ve set ambitious growth targets as we expand our team, broaden our portfolio and tap into the growth potential within the hospitality sector.”

Founded in 1975, Venus Wine and Spirits Merchants now offers a range of over 3,000 premium spirits, wines, beers and soft drinks. With around 150 employees, the business is renowned for its expertise, exceptional product range and commitment to quality and service. The business has 150 employees and depots in Tottenham, Leeds, Bristol and Manchester – as well as the new Birmingham site – and manages its own fleets.