Rajiv Bhatia, the highly respected former regional director at William Grant & Sons, has joined French wine company Peuch & Besse as Advisor Business Development.
He will work closely with company leaders Sylvain Combe and Isabelle Gec-Peuch to drive business growth in travel retail as well as domestic channels.
Bhatia has almost 25 years of experience in the drinks industry, initially with Inver House Distillers from 1996, where he later rose to become Regional Sales Director.
He then joined William Grant & Sons, where he oversaw business across travel retail and domestic markets in the Gulf, wider Middle East and Indian sub-continent. His most recent role before leaving at the end of 2019 was Director GTR Europe, Middle East & Africa.
Bhatia told The Moodie Davitt Report: “Having enjoyed a well-earned sabbatical (slightly longer than expected courtesy of COVID-19), I am delighted to be back in travel retail, this time embarking on a new adventure in the exciting world of French wines with Sylvain and his amazing team at Maison Peuch & Besse.”
He added: “In my advisory role focusing on business development, it will be a privilege working with Sylvain on developing new distribution opportunities for the selection of P&B wines in the travel retail & duty free channel (and in domestic markets too) across the world. It’s going to an exciting journey of discovery for me.”
Bhatia said he had been seeking an opportunity to work with a partner that shared his values.
“I have worked with family companies before and that remains important to me. I didn’t necessarily want to go back into corporate life full-time and had been looking at helping small to medium sized companies, ones that had long-term thinking and strategy.
“Sylvain and I share similar values and are passionate believers in the power of building long-term partnerships with our customers.”
Bhatia said he had connected with Peuch & Besse over many years at the TFWA Asia Pacific show, where its stand was close to William Grant’s.
“I got to know Sylvain over a glass of wine on his stand or over a Hendrick’s gin & tonic at ours, respectively. I have a great affinity for the many wonderful people from France that are in our industry. And on top of that, I’ve been holidaying with family for over 20 years in the Languedoc, in the southwest of France.
“I have worked across almost every category in spirits, and wine is something new. It has been over-looked by some retailers but has tremendous potential. For retailers, it offers the opportunity to open up their ranges and to use wine as a category to drive footfall. It also offers an important point of difference. People are learning much more about wines today and they need education. Travel retail can be a platform for that.
“You also have the chance to speak to Millennials who may be looking for something else that is lower in alcohol than spirits and reflects a trend towards healthier drinking.”
Bhatia said he also looked forward to working closely with the winemakers, whose “selections are well defined with a unique quality/price balance, and come from France’s best terroirs”.
He added: “As a family business which dates back to 1904, at P&B it is all about the journey of sharing the emotion of wine – through the terroirs, the wines, and those who make them.”
*Peuch & Besse has signed up as an exhibitor for the inaugural Virtual Travel Retail Expo (12-16 October), as reported.
CEO Sylvain Combe said: “Following the cancellation of the TFWA Singapore and Cannes exhibitions the Virtual Expo will be a great opportunity. This year, we have been further apart than ever before from our customers and partners, and for a longer time. I am happy that you [The Moodie Davitt Report] are giving us the occasion to listen to everyone, as well as to discuss what solutions we can find together, and help business take off faster. Our authentic wine growers will be with us through their videos, presenting their wines, their terroir and tradition. So we are fully equipped for the digital fair.”
The unique 5-day ‘live’ event, followed by a 30-day showcase, begins on 12 October, just after the conclusion of the Chinese Golden Week holidays. It features a star-studded series of events across the five days, including a Symposium, category workshops and a new consumer research initiative.
Registration is free for buyers, exhibitors and preferred media partners. (Click here to register)
