News
Spirits distributor Speciality Brands confirms three new appointments
Richard Prideaux, who arrived from Diageo where he spent the past eight and a half years, has taken on the newly created role of head of commercial.
This will see Prideaux oversee the firm’s sales team for the entirety of the UK, while also supporting the managing director in meeting the sales strategy and delivering further opportunities across all channels. Prideaux’s started working in the drinks industry in 2002 with Fuller’s Brewery and has since worked for Moet Hennessy UK and Diageo Reserve in Canada.
Elsewhere, Dylan Bell has joined Speciality Brands as the distributor expands its London on-trade wing, primarily covering east and north London as well as Cambridgeshire and East Anglia. Bell arrives following a spell as UK brand ambassador and London on-trade sales manager at Kyro, while he also held commercial roles with 58 & Co and The London Distillery Company.
Overall, Bell possesses more than 10 years of experience within the UK drinks industry, having spent time working across brands such as Monkey Shoulder, Sailor Jerry and Glenfiddich while at William Grand & Sons.
Finally, Jody Buchan has joined the Scottish sales team as its new business development manager, with a focus on the on-trade part of the business. Buchan has spent more than 20 years in the hospitality sector and owned an award-winning cocktail bar in Edinburgh.
Throughout his career, Buchan has won multiple titles including mixologist of the year, and most recently worked as brand ambassador for Monkey Shoulder.
"We’re thrilled to welcome Rich, Dylan and Jody to our talented team,” said Chris Seale, managing director at Speciality Brands.
“Their diverse skills and industry knowledge will undoubtedly open plenty of new opportunities for our brands. As we celebrate our 15th anniversary this year, we continue to invest in our business and I am really proud that our portfolio attracts so many industry talents. [This year] is off to a great start and we’re looking forward to even greater success in the future."
Based in London, Speciality Brands is a drinks with a portfolio that is solely focused on premium spirits such as Nikka, Michter’s, Camus Cognac, Cocchi, Black Tot rum and Tapatio.
In other news, new research has found that overnight oats and coronation chicken were the top-searched food trends on TikTok in the UK last year.
