By Scott Wright
A FIFE-based wine merchant which supplies most of Scotland’s Michelin-starred restaurants has moved into the home delivery business.
L’Art du Vin, which has customers across Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, Aberdeen, the Highlands and its native Fife, launched its “contactless” service after bars and restaurants were forced to close their doors under social distancing measures to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
It is the latest example of a business in the hospitality sector tailoring its models in response to the health crisis. Glasgow restaurateur Alan Tomkins recently revitalised the online wine delivery operation he first launched at the height of the dot.com boom in 1999, while many restaurants have moved into takeaway deliveries to ensure at least some cash continues to come in.
READ MORE: Glasgow restaurateur relaunches online wine delivery service amid Coronavirus outbreak
L’Art du Vin, whose clients include The Kitchin and Condita in Edinburgh and Lochbay on the Isle of Skye, said it has curated a new series of wine collections based grape varieties and styles, giving customers a simple way to shop and explore. Prices start at £7.50 per bottle and free delivery is offered for orders worth more than £100, the company said.
Director Richard Bouglet, who formed L’Art du Vin with Philippe Larue in 2007, said: “In the wake of Covid-19, we’ve been working tirelessly to transform our business overnight and react to new customer demand.
READ MORE: Scottish dairy firms see customer demand for doorstep delivery services spike mid Covid-19 crisis
“Many others are in a similar position, including many of our hospitality clients, but what’s truly inspiring is seeing more and more people support local, independent businesses right now. We’re lucky that we’ve had the agility, first class team and support of our restaurant customers to turn our business around.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the response and we’re continuing to shape our offering to try to break down barriers in the industry so more people can enjoy great wine at home.”
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