Oxfordshire gin brand cocks a snook at lockdown to expand
With supermarket sales of alcohol soaring 50 per cent during lockdown, an Oxfordshire-based micro distillery has made three new senior appointments to grow its business.
Launched just 18 months ago, The Sky Wave Distilling Company, scooped the World’s Best Contemporary Gin title at the World Gin Awards 2020 – less than a month before the hospitality trade was shut down.
Owners Rachel Hicks and Andy Parsons moved swiftly to get a team in place to embrace the opportunity this global win presented.  Sky Wave has taken on a new Business Development Manager, Marketing Manager and a Sales Manager.
“We’re thrilled to be able to boost our business with these new appointments,” said Rachel,
“Having a team on board has already had a big impact on our development. With their help, we have expanded our online distribution, adding Winebuyers, The Gin Kin, Distoo, The Gin Warehouse, Melted Inside and The Gin To My Tonic sales platforms to the roster. Sales via Amazon and Master of Malt have remained strong and overall, alcohol sales online have increased by 33%, meaning we’re in a great position to move forward.”
Strong team support has unlocked more time for gin development, with distillers Rachel and Andy, now making final tweaks to a range of new products planned for Summer and Autumn 2020 and into 2021.
Looking forwards, the team will be focusing on expanding the range of retail stockists for Sky Wave Gin, particularly in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and the Cotswolds.
“Building relationships online and particularly through virtual tastings during lockdown has helped us really get to know our customers”, says Rachel.
“We now have a great opportunity to support high quality independent retailers as they emerge from lockdown.”
Simon Pettit joins the business to oversee business development, Sarah Birkby will take on the strategic marketing role and Christina Russell, formerly Senior National Account Manager for Brita (Water Filters), takes on the role of Sales Manager.
