| Wine wholesaling The wine-wholesaling segment of the Hawesko Group is comprised of CWD Champagner und Wein Distributionsgesellschaft - a wholesaler which uses the proven structure of the Hanseatisches Wein- und Sekt-Kontor - and the Wein -Wolf Group - a classical distributor of premium wines. CWD Champagner und Wein Distributionsgesellschaft, founded in 1986, has developed into a significant wholesaler that counts more than 5,000 restaurants, hotels and wine specialists to its customers. We offer our customers a full assortment of over 1,000 wines. The integration into the Hawesko Group assures competitive advantages for the company, especially in logistics and product range. Further reasons for the success of this company are the favourable cost structures, efficient direct-marketing, the flexibility and short lead times for delivery. Even smaller orders (from 12 bottles) are no problem. Deliveries are completed within two days or even within 24 hours if desired: a performance no other company can match and a competitive advantage for CWD. The activities of the Wein-Wolf group, founded in 1981, include not only the distribution of premium wines to top-flight restaurants in Germany but also five further companies: Wein Wolf Vertrieb imports top-level wines; Ariane Abayan is a leading importer of Italian premium wines; Gebr. Ziegler produces world-class eau-de-vie; Baron von Essen Weinhandel develops and markets designer-wine products as presents; Wein Wolf Österreich secures the distribution in Austria. The Wein-Wolf group employs 80 people. Wein-Wolf is an important complement to the Group and helps to strengthen the position of the Hawesko Group at the top of the German wine market, in particular by bringing in such top-name brands as Taittinger, Torres and Louis Jadot. This has made the Hawesko Group an even more attractive partner for the producers of premium wines, which has been borne out by the shift of the famous Italian wine producer Marchesi Antinori Srl., the Australian wine producer Penfolds and the world-renowned French Château Baron Philippe de Rothschild S.A. to the Hawesko Group. In 2000, the bordelais négociant Chateau Classic became part of the Hawesko Group. As a result, Hawesko has a place directly in the top fine-wine market of Bordeaux. Maintaining a continual presence in this Mecca for wine-lovers is de rigeur for a large, wine-trading group, and the Group can benefit through its subsidiary from the privileges of being a trader in Bordeaux. |