(August 21, 2001) CWD Champagner- und Wein-Distributionsgesellschaft now wholly owned by Hawesko
Hamburg, 21 August 2001. The wine trading group Hawesko Holding AG (HAWG.F, 604270) has now acquired all outstanding shares of its wholesale subsidiary CWD Champagner- und Wein-Distributionsgesellschaft, thus increasing its interest to 100% (previously 90%). The re-acquired 10% comes from Société Jacques Bollinger S.A., Ay/Champagne, which had acquired it 10 years ago, during the build-up phase of CWD.
CWD, founded in 1986 as a flexible mail-order-based wholesale enterprise, uses the logistics of its larger sister company, the Hanseatisches Wein- und Sekt-Kontor. Together with Wein Wolf, which Hawesko acquired in 1999, CWD forms the wholesale division of the Group, and specializes in the distribution of premium wines and champagnes to restaurants and other resellers. In fiscal year 2000, CWD achieved sales of DM 21 million, nearly one-fifth of Hawesko's wholesale turnover of DM 117 million. Bollinger champagnes are distributed in Germany exclusively through CWD.
"The Bollinger shareholding in CWD has contributed to the successful development of the company", says Alexander Margaritoff, CEO of Hawesko Holding AG. "The new change in CWD´s shareholder structure will further increase our flexibility in distribution activities - without affecting CWD´s tried-and-true product range."
Hawesko Holding AG is the leading seller of premium wines and champagnes. Through its three distribution channels - mail order/e-commerce (particularly Hanseatisches Wein- und Sekt-Kontor), stationary specialist retail (Jacques' Wein-Depot) and wholesale (Wein Wolf and CWD Champagner- und Wein-Distributionsgesellschaft) - the Group achieved sales of DM 454 million in 2000. Hawesko employs a yearly average of 515 staff members.
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