Buying 


Widely regarded as the glamorous side of the business, the reality can in fact be very different: buying generates an enormous burden of administration, as stocks and reserves require constant supervision. In addition, the search for wines of quality can be a daunting one, and a great many hours are spent tasting poor wines and fending off producers of the mediocre. However, discovering a new wine which does fulfil our buying criteria causes great excitement, and the relationship which builds up over many years between us and our suppliers is often full of friendship. The greatest growers are almost without exception people of strong character, and often endearingly idiosyncratic. Visiting and tasting with them can be tremendously stimulating, allowing us to draw on a remarkable depth of wine experience. It is perhaps our greatest challenge to assimilate this accumulation of knowledge, and to pass it on both to our sales team, and ultimately to our customers. Contact: buying@armit.co.uk

NICK ADAMS MW

Nick started his wine career with IDV in 1983 where he rose to be a National Account Manager with Percy Fox, leaving to run Geoffrey Roberts Agencies. Time with Seagram and as a director of Mentzendorff for 4 years followed. After a period as an independent wine consultant, Nick ran the Agency Division of Lay and Wheeler from where he joined armit in February 2007. Nick heads the Buying team and, in addition, is Head of Agency sales.

SARA FAULKNER

Sara began her career in the wine trade working at Oddbins. After graduating with a degree in Music from Oxford in 1998 and failing to cut the mustard as a professional singer, she joined Corney & Barrow, first working in Sales Support and then moving into Buying. After subsequent jobs with Morris & Verdin and Liberty wines, she joined the staff of armit in 2002, and is now responsible for the whole portfolio outside Bordeaux, Burgundy and Italy. Known to all as Ra, she enjoys playing & listening to music in her spare time and loves cats and smelly French cheeses.

VICTORIA ANDERSON

Victoria joined armit in 2006 after graduating with an MA in Spanish and History from the University of Edinburgh. Living in Madrid for a year deepened her love of all things Spanish, and her interest in other cultures and exploring different tastes sparked a desire to enter the wine trade. She hopes to expand her knowledge and understanding of wine at armit and looks forward to completing the WSET certificates. Victoria enjoys travelling, photography and escaping to the countryside.