Majestic, the UK’s largest specialist wine retailer, is pleased to announce that its chief operating officer Rob Cooke has been appointed to the board of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).
Cooke will join the trade body with immediate effect, bringing a wealth of knowledge, expertise and experience to the WSTA at an important time for the wine industry. The trade is currently consulting both the British and Scottish Governments over plans for a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), while the WSTA is also lobbying Westminster for a review of Alcohol Excise Duty, following the biggest hike in duty for decades in the Spring Budget.
Cooke sits on the Majestic executive team and oversees Majestic’s ecommerce, buying and marketing functions, as well as Majestic Commercial – its fast-growing on-trade arm which signed up more than 400 new bars, pubs and restaurants during 2022.
He has played a crucial part in Majestic’s turnaround since it moved back into private ownership in 2019 after separating from Naked Wines Plc. Rob’s role in Majestic’s transformation earned him the Drinks Business Man of the Year Award in 2020 and his team has scooped more than 20 awards during the past three years.
Cooke ’s vast experience in the wine trade dates back more than a decade. He joined Majestic from Tesco, where he was Category Director for Beers, Wines and Spirits. He also spent four years at Sainsbury’s as Head of Non-Food Transformation and then Head of Buying.
The WSTA, led by chief executive Miles Beale, represents more than 300 companies producing, importing, exporting, transporting and selling wines and spirits in the United Kingdom. Its diverse membership provides a strong and united voice within the trade.
Following Cooke ’s appointment, the WSTA is looking to continue to diversify its board by recruiting four more new members below CEO or principal level, chosen for their different business expertise and perspectives.
Commenting on his appointment, Cooke said: “I’m delighted to be joining the WSTA board. As the UK’s largest specialist wine retailer, Majestic has a responsibility to be a force for good and advocate for positive change across the wine industry, for the benefit of our customers, colleagues and suppliers. I’m looking forward to working with Miles and the rest of the WSTA board to build a sustainable future for the trade.”
WSTA chief executive Miles Beale said: “Rob’s appointment is a welcome addition to the growing WSTA board and he brings with him a wealth of expertise in wine and spirit retail.
“The UK’s wine and spirit businesses and consumers face some of the highest tax increases in decades, as well as complex and costly deposit return scheme proposals and all alongside a backdrop of punishing pandemic losses. Facing these challenges, it is important that we work together to campaign for more support for the wine and spirit trade.”
