Reed becomes sales director Essential Drinks

Essential Drinks, part of the Quintessential Brands Group, has appointed Nick Reed as sales director to initially focus on growing the off-trade channels. 

Nick's role is a newly-created position at Essential Drinks, which supplied UK and international retailers with 3.5 million 9-litre cases of spirits in 2013.

Nick was previously business unit director of the grocery channel at First Drinks Brands, part of William Grant & Sons, which moved from number seven spirits supplier in the UK to number two in three years.  Nick was with First Drinks for 18 years and prior to that worked in senior sales positions for Reckitt Benckiser and Pepsico.

Karl Hayes, MD of Essential Drinks, says: “Nick is a great addition to the Essential Drinks team and brings with him over 25 years’ FMCG experience, working in multinational blue-chip companies.  His entrepreneurial flair is a great fit for our company and we look forward to the continued expansion of our spirits supply business with Nick on board.”

3 March 2014 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor