Hamburg/Munster, 21 September 2006 The wine trading group Hawesko Holding AG (HAW GR, HAWG.DE, DE0006042708) opened its first multiwein store, a new distribution concept in the Group's stationary business segment, today in the Westphalian city of Munster. The product range of this specialist wine discounter is focussed on the price category between € 2.50 and € 4.00 per bottle. Until now, the subsidiaries of the Hawesko Group have served mainly the higher and premium-priced segments starting at € 5.00 per bottle. The primary target group for multiwein consists of consumers between the ages of 30 and 50 who purchase wine mostly in supermarkets or non-specialist discounters. In addition to the affordable prices, a special advantage for customers is the presentation of the wines, structured according to their aromas. By the end of the year, two more multiwein stores will open in Zwickau and Cologne, with up to five new openings planned for 2007. The stores are designed with 400 to 500 square meters of selling space.

 

Chief executive officer Alexander Margaritoff stated: "With multiwein, the Hawesko Group is targeting the extremely large lower-price segment of the wine market for the first time. Our goal is to develop new groups of customers. We want to inspire enthusiasm for quality wines and provide them with an initial orientation in the world of wine. In doing so, our unique expertise in wine will certainly work to our benefit."

 

Hawesko Holding AG is the leading supplier of premium wines and champagnes. Its sales channels include specialist wine retail (Jacques' Wein-Depot, multiwein), wholesale (Wein Wolf and CWD Champagner- und Wein-Distributionsgesellschaft) and mail order (particularly Hanseatisches Wein- und Sekt-Kontor). In fiscal year 2005 the Group achieved sales of € 287 million and employed an average of 566 staff members. The shares of Hawesko Holding AG are listed on the Hanseatic Stock Exchange in Hamburg as well as in the GEX segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

 

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Published by:
Hawesko Holding AG
Postfach 20 15 52
20205 Hamburg, Germany

 

Web sites:
http://www.hawesko.com 
(Company information)
http://www.hawesko.de    
(Online shop)
http://www.jacques.de      
(Information on Jacques' Wein-Depot)
http://www.multiwein.de  
(Location of multiwein stores)

 

Press/Media:     
Vera Maria Bau, VMB Consulting   
Phone:  +49 (0)228 4496 240    
Fax      +49 (0)228 4496 298     
E-mail:  vmb.pr@t-online.de    

 

Investor Relations:
Thomas Hutchinson, Hawesko Holding AG
Phone: +49 (0)40 30 39 21 00
Fax     +49 (0)40 30 39 21 05 
E-mail: ir@hawesko.com