? Date you joined the company: 28 November 1988

? Previous employer: Lam Cash & Carry, Haringey, London

? Responsible for: wines and spirits - brand and own brand (Vintners Collection wines & Prince Consort spirits)

? Married/single/family: proud father to Sharon and grandfather to Alex

? Leisure time spent: giving Alex (aged 7 months) drum lessons - he's going to be the next John Bonham

? Offer one piece of advice to help suppliers succeed with you: just do the basics but do them well

? The best promotion currently running with our customers is: Martell Cognac 70cl and 1.5ltr

? My vote for the best current/recent TV/press advertising is: Can't comment. Don't watch TV or read the press - it's all rubbish!

? The best new product launch this year is: The Rosemount wines re-launch will be a great success. The new bottle shape is fantastic.

? Gripe of the month: Duty evasion is having a major impact on the marketplace and in my opinion is worse than it ever has been before. There are completely unsustainable prices easily available from unfamiliar sources and it is not clear how these prices are arrived at. It appears that something is fundamentally wrong and yet no-one seems to be doing anything about it.

Also, too many suppliers do not have a clear strategy for the C&C/wholesale sector; too many suppliers talk a good game but don't follow it up, or don't even talk a good game.

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