Wine firm minted after £1.5m funding deal leads to HQ move

SOLIHULL-based wine merchants Budge Brands has selected one of Birmingham’s most famous industrial sites as the location of its new head office.

The firm, brand owner of Premier Estates Wine, has purchased space at the Grade II Listed former Birmingham Mint building in the city’s Jewellery Quarter.

The move follows the firm’s success in attracting a £1.5m funding package from Santander Corporate & Commercial.
 
Established in 2005 and owned by Budge Dhariwal, Budge Brands was developed to fill a gap in the market for a range of branded wines at everyday prices. Premier Estates Wine is now a brand stocked in thousands of retail outlets and some of the largest wholesalers throughout the UK.

Budge Brands turnover for 2016 is expected to rise to £20m with its steep growth trajectory set to continue.

The location of the new office brings the firm closer to Birmingham city centre, which it hopes will act as a stimulus for new business growth.

The firm’s relationship with Santander has been instrumental in it entering new export markets.

Budge Dhariwal attended a Santander trade mission to the United States in 2015, as a result of which Budge Brands has now entered the US market following its appearance at trades shows in Las Vegas and Boston. The business is also working with Santander as it looks to enter the Chinese market, which is viewed as a rapidly expanding opportunity.  
 
Budge Dhariwal, director, Budge Brands, said: “Since becoming a client of Santander Corporate & Commercial in 2014, the bank has helped us enormously, both with the day to day business and with future growth opportunities. The trade mission in particular was an invaluable experience and we have now entered the US market as a direct result of it.”
 
Andrew Bullock, relationship director, Santander Corporate & Commercial, said: “It is great that Santander has been able to use our international expertise to help Budge Brands expand internationally. Getting UK firms to export is a key priority for Santander and Budge Brands is a great example of a business that has benefited from international trade.

“The firm has successfully carved out a niche for itself in the UK and the purchase of this new property, along with its focused export strategy, will see this business go from strength to strength.”
 

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