It is now confirmed that European Food Brokers (EFB) Ltd has bought 37 of the remaining Oddbins shops. The company was set up by Raj Chatha in 1991 and is now a subsidiary of EFB Holdings Ltd. The last accounts for European Food Brokers Ltd filed with Companies House are up to 31st January 2010 and shows that Raj Chatha holds 100% of the shares.
EFB Ltd's primary business is the wholesale distribution of alcoholic drinks. The turnover for the year was £96.4 million (2009 – £88.65 million) with a pre-tax profit of £7,186,471(2009 – £5,160,456). Profit after tax was £5.2 million compared to £4m the year before. The company has several subsidiaries including EFB Retail and wholesaler John Stephenson & Sons (Nelson) Ltd. There are also three companies using the Wine Cellar name who are indirectly owned subsidiaries.
Whittalls Wines Ltd is a subsidiary of EFB Holdings Ltd and had a turnover of £464,000 in the year to 31st January 2010 compared to £264,000 the previous year. It made a post tax profit of £221,743.
Whittalls Wines Ltd is a subsidiary of EFB Holdings Ltd and had a turnover of £464,000 in the year to 31st January 2010 compared to £264,000 the previous year. It made a post tax profit of £221,743.
The branches bought are, in the main, the London and Scotland branches - the heart of the estate - and yet the name of the company has not been bought. While I'm delighted that the employees of these branches will continue to have employment, I think this means that Oddbins, as we have known it, is dead.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the name will be used by a website trading in the modern day equivalent of the original business - buying odd bins of wine and selling at good prices. Not a bad thing, I suppose, in itself.
But oh so sad.
Anon. Your comment on EFB cannot be published without further details.
ReplyDelete