The Oxford Wine Company will split the retail and wholesale sides of the business into separate companies with immediate effect.

The two companies will operate from premises next door to one another at the Oxfordshire head office.

A new managing director is being appointed to operate and expand the newly created Oxford Wine Wholesale, which will remain under ownership of the Sandbach family.

The Oxford Wine Company will continue with four retail shops, the Oxford Wine School and the Oxford University and corporate business. It will also continue to supply its four wine bars: The Oxford Wine Café, The Oxford Wine Cellar, The Oxford Wine Tavern and Sandy’s Piano & Wine Bar). All other trade supply will be handled by Oxford Wine Wholesale.

Owner Ted Sandbach (pictured) says: “The two sides of the company had been drifting apart for a number of years with different priorities and personnel. We believe that splitting them will allow each company to perform to its fullest potential. Oxford Wine Wholesale will have a larger portfolio of wines selected specifically for the on-trade, whilst The Oxford Wine Company can concentrate on sourcing a wide range of interesting and unusual products to satisfy our curious and knowledgeable retail customer base.

“The wholesale team, comprising trade sales executives, drivers and some operations and admin staff will switch over to Oxford Wine Wholesale. The retail side has been busy recruiting new staff, bringing our total customer-facing team to fifteen. We have also brought on a new team member specifically to concentrate on developing our busy and popular events programme.

“We are excited about this new development, which we believe will allow both The Oxford Wine Company and Oxford Wine Wholesale to continue to provide the best possible quality and service to our respective customers.”