Member Article

Wine merchants Firth & Co celebrate excellent 10th anniversary year

Leading Yorkshire wine merchant Andrew Firth is celebrating his most successful year, breaking the £1 million turnover barrier for the first time.

Andrew, who runs his own North Yorkshire-based company Firth & Co, revealed the firm’s annual turnover had grown by 20% in the past twelve months to its highest-ever level.

Firth & Co moved from Bedale to bespoke offices and a warehouse at Lowfield Farm, Ainderby Steeple in 2015 to cope with growing demand.

Andrew, the former managing director of Yorkshire wine merchants Playford Ros, has just appointed experienced wine merchant Will Tilling as sales director.

“The last 12 months have been extremely encouraging,” explained Andrew. “Turnover has increased by 20 per cent to a record high and we have also a raft of prestigious hotels restaurants as clients.

“Our success has enabled me to promote Will, who previously worked for Majestic Wines in Somerset, to sales director. He has been with us for three years and has been an integral part of our progress. He has proved to be an invaluable support to me as we continue to look after our existing customers and gain new ones and is a great addition to our team.

“We have established a strong reputation for being a niche supplier of excellent European wines at competitive prices. We pride ourselves on a swift and personal service and are proud of the fact that we supply some of the very best hotels and restaurants in Yorkshire and the North East.

“These include the Star Inn The City in York, owned and run by Michelin-starred chef and long-term customer Andrew Pern; the Pipe and Glass near Beverley and the Yorke Arms, near Pateley Bridge, both Michelin-starred; the Blue Lion in East Witton; the Black Swan in Helmsley; Bowcliffe Hall at Bramham, near Wetherby; Salt’s Mill at Saltaire, near Bradford; The Bay Horse, Hurworth, near Darlington, The Golden Lion, Osmotherley; and the White Horse and Griffin in Whitby.

Jonathan Turner, owner of Bowcliffe Hall and The Yorke Arms, commented: “I have known Andrew for many years and trust his experience and good judgment. His personal service is unrivalled, while his knowledge and choice of wines from across the world is exemplary. I think it is also important to choose local Yorkshire suppliers whenever possible, so Firth & Co fit the bill perfectly. I look forward to continuing our long and happy relationship in the coming years.”

Andrew Firth explained: “Our move to ideal new premises near Northallerton five years ago was an endorsement of the steady progress we had made since Firth & Co was founded. Apart from the self-contained office space, we have a reception area, where we can hold wine tastings, and a spacious purpose-built warehouse to store our wines. It has proved perfect for our expansion.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Robert Beaumont .