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EWGA Wines was founded in Lancashire in 1972 by Pamela and Gerald Moeckell who started importing wine from Europe and distributed it to local hospitality businesses in Lancashire and Cumbria. Today, EWGA Wines has grown to become the largest Lancashire-based independent wine importer and wholesaler, supplying customers across the nation from its three bonded warehouses importing wine from all around the world. The traditional business of wine wholesaling is continued today by their son Adrian Moeckell and his loyal team.
The company started trading from the family house in Silverdale, the garage being the warehouse and the front room the office. Wine imports came mainly from Germany and France at the time.
Offloading the wine cases from the delivery trucks was a true family affair with everyone lending a helping hand.
The name EWGA originally stood for European Wine Growers Associates. However, when the company expanded its imports to include wines from all over the world, we rebranded as EWGA Wines.
The company started to grow, and in 1989 larger premises were needed so they moved the operations to Challan Hall in Silverdale where they found the right facilities to support their growth and ambitions.
It was at this time that Gerald’s health deteriorated and he sadly passed away. His son, Adrian decided to take over the business in partnership with his mother, Pam.
The company moved to the village of Holme where a large warehouse was rented to accommodate the expanding business. During this time the administration offices and warehouse were separate and plans were being made to bring the two together.
Also, there was a need for a bonded warehouse, where goods could be kept ‘Under Bond’. What does the term ‘Under Bond’ mean? Wines that are ‘Under Bond’ have not yet had the Duty and VAT paid on them. These wines are shipped directly from the winery to a secure bonded storage warehouse.
The solution was the purchase of the Hyning Home Farm in Carnforth where adequate facilities would be built over the next couple of years. This is where the company resides to this day. The building process took several exciting years, between 2003 and 2008.
First came the warehouse which was finished in 2006, stock was now housed Under Bond and allowed for the build-up of the wine agency business. Then, in 2008 the administration offices were finished creating the company’s first Head Office.
Along the way, the company acquired Palindrome Wines in Hampshire in 2007, opening the southern part of England for trade. The year, 2014 was monumental for continued expansion as the company purchased No.9 Wines in Hertfordshire in February and Heritage Wines in Gloucestershire in December.
Heritage Wines which operated out of the small town of Wickwar was re-branded as EWGA Wines. This office distributed wine in the South West and London. With a pair of offices in England, the company was now a formidable player in the wine wholesale market.
Another part of the business is the retail arm, WineTime. The first shop opened in 1999 in the village of Milnthorpe and later moved to larger premises at Greenlands Farm Village in Tewitfield, just a two-minute drive from the head office.
The retail side of the business expanded in 2013 with the purchase of Scatchards wine shop, now WineTime Liverpool. Similarly, in May of 2014, a traditional waterfront pub in Arnside called The Albion was acquired.
In 2016, a new tasting and conference building was constructed to accommodate meetings and events.
In the latter part of the last decade, EWGA Wines has started to source many key wines in bulk shipments directly from wineries around the world to be bottled in the UK.
Developing new wine brands in-house was crucial for EWGA Wines’ ability to offer a competitive and diverse portfolio, and follow the company’s “grape to glass” philosophy.
Going into the 2020s, the company invested significant time and money into its infrastructure and systems. Improved warehouse layout, new forklift trucks and shutter gates make for seamless logistics. Better operational efficiencies were achieved thanks to the implementation of a new ERP system.
In 2023, EWGA became a carbon-neutral operation thanks to a review of all sustainability policies, investment in greener vehicles and installation of solar panels.
A new B2B ordering platform, fully integrated with the ERP system was developed and the company launched an online wine training platform for its customers.
In 2024, EWGA won the prestigious Lancashire Business Award and was nominated for a BIBAs award.
The company offers a competitive and diverse portfolio backed by sound professional advice and first-class customer service. Additional services include under-bond purchases, bulk and fine wine storage facilities, Riedel glassware, an online wine training platform and private label options.
© 2024 EWGA Wines, Hyning Home Bond, Dock Acres, Warton. Lancashire. LA6 1HP.
The information displayed on this site is for general information purposes only. VAT: 334 9496 25 Company no: 4704072