Source: The Cotswolds Distillery

The brand is hoping Reed’s appointment will boost its off-trade fortunes

Cotswolds Distillery has hired former Quintessential Brands MD Nick Reed as commercial director.

The appointment of Reed, whose drinks industry experience has spanned multiple roles at Quintessential as well as 18 years serving as trade sales director for William Grant & Sons, would ”specifically allow us to reach more premium spirit shoppers”, said Cotswolds Distillery CEO Daniel Szor.

Source: The Cotswolds Distillery

Nick Reed

The hire ”underpins our ambition to continue our exceptional growth and further build our brand footprint nationally”, he added. “[Reed’s] experience in the grocery multiple channel will specifically allow us to reach more premium spirit shoppers.”

Reed said he was ”looking forward to communicating its fantastic portfolio and working closely with trade partners both in the UK and internationally to drive consideration and demand for Cotswolds Distillery products.”

The brand’s whisky made its national debut in Waitrose approximately one year ago, with the launch of its core single malt into the retailer. Shortly after it announced it had appointed former Cadbury Schweppes CEO Dominic Cadbury to its board of directors.

In summer 2019 it kicked off a major marketing push behind its gin, playing up the drink’s ‘cloudy’ credentials’.