Rapidly growing liquor distributor Icon Fine Wine and Spirits today launches its new convertible, tasting-room style offices at 1152 Mainland Street in Yaletown.
The move comes as the seven-year-old venture, owned by the Whitefish Group, celebrates landing three major new international winery clients in the past couple of months.
New to Icon’s roster are:
- Argentina’s Zorzal (formerly distributed by Freehouse);
- Chile’s Lapostolle (formerly distributed by Diageo Canada); and
- France’s Chateau de Sancerre (formerly distributed by Diageo Canada).
Jay Garnett, Whitefish Group president and former Business in Vancouver 40 under 40 winner, told BIV February 4 that Icon generated $6 million in sales in 2012 and that the new accounts will add about $1 million in annual sales.
He expects to expand Icon’s 2013 sales to $8.4 million thanks to additional organic growth.
“We just hired someone in B.C. and someone in Alberta,” said Garnett, whose company distributes wine and spirits across Canada.
“There’s a change in the industry that’s resonating with these brands. They don’t want to be with the big, big companies but the small local guys aren’t able to handle them. Middle guys are going to start being very successful.”
