|
The Mumbai -born Banford has spent the most part of his life in the UK and USA after spending his early years in India. In the US, he had also formed a similar Wine Society and sold it before coming to India in 2006 and forming WSI. Starting from scratch, he has developed it into a 4000-member organisation modelled after the wine clubs and societies overseas, which retails wines to its members, besides carrying on other attractive and educative activities to keep them engaged.
‘Over the past 5 years, the company has grown to become India's largest wine retailing organisation with a customer base of over 10,000,’ he says adding that ‘the development of this enterprise has been so labour intensive, that many weekends and evenings have needed to be sacrificed.’
David is one of the partners in the venture with a sizable holding. So does Steven Spurrier with whom he had partnered before UB had invested money as a passive partner a few years ago, when they got into wine imports and production. Currently in Zagreb, tasting Croatian wines with Oz Clarke, Steven says that ‘David’s departure from India has been planned for some time- almost three years. He will remain CEO “in abstentia” and be on call for the WSI on a regular basis from his new home in Stellenbosch.’
The ownership pattern of the WSI has not changed, according to Steven but he adds, ‘we are in discussions with a potential new shareholder, who will be able to move the WSI to new heights.’
Nishant Kapoor takes over as Finance and Brand Director and Danielle d'Lima becomes the General Manager Operations.
Banford who is in Bangalore, could not be contacted at the time of this report. Hasta luego, amigo! Enjoy the ensuing South African summer.
For an earlier related article, visit WSI: Delhi Wine Village
|