What Bibendum PLB Group does

Bibendum Wine Ltd. (trading as Bibendum Wine) is a UK-based B2B wholesale distributor of wine, champagne, spirits, beer, cider, and non-alcoholic drinks, founded in 1986 and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Irish-listed drinks conglomerate C&C Group plc. The company is an On Trade specialist, supplying hospitality businesses that serve alcohol for on-premise consumption — Michelin-starred restaurants, cocktail bars, catering companies, and pub groups — with named sub-businesses extending the footprint into Scotland, Ireland, and the Off Trade channel. Its core commercial platform is bibendum-wine-online.co.uk, an account-based trade e-commerce portal where approved hospitality customers can browse the curated portfolio and place orders; this is layered on top of a direct field-sales motion run through account managers.

The product portfolio is organised into structured categories (Wine & Sparkling, Champagne, Spirits & Softs, Beer & Cider, and Fine Wine), with a stated emphasis on 'mindful' and sustainable producers and selective additions such as Domaine Alexandre Bonnet. Bibendum monetises via wholesale transaction fees (mark-up on cases sold to trade accounts); pricing is account-based and quote-driven rather than publicly listed. The company also operates a Training Hub delivering WSET qualifications, bespoke training, and e-learning, and a Wine Gym content library for trade education — both positioned as customer-retention and category-development tools rather than standalone revenue streams. Regulatory standing is evidenced by AWRS registration (XVAW00000101595) and the Harpers Sustainability Charter signatory status. The entity is privately held within C&C Group plc; no standalone revenue, headcount, or financial KPIs are disclosed in the source material.

Name

Bibendum PLB Group

Legal name

Bibendum Wine Ltd.

Website

https://bibendum-plb.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bibendum Wine is a UK B2B wholesale distributor of wine, champagne, spirits, beer, and cider, founded in 1986 and now a subsidiary of C&C Group plc. It supplies On Trade hospitality — Michelin-starred restaurants, cocktail bars, caterers, and pub groups — via field sales and a trade e-commerce portal, with sub-units in Scotland, Ireland, and the Off Trade.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wholesale Beverage Distribution

NAICS

Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (4248), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482), Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers (424810)

SIC

Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Online B2B Grocery Supply for Small Businesses (Wholesale-to-Consumer/Prosumer) (CRAHAIAL)

Keywords

• Wholesale wine distribution
• On trade beverages
• Hospitality drinks supply
• Spirits and beer wholesale
• Wine trade supplier

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Wine Distribution: Wholesale distribution of wine, spirits, beer, and ciders to UK On Trade hospitality businesses. Products include wines (sparkling, white, rose, red, fortified), champagne, beer, cider, spirits (gin, vodka, whisky, tequila, rum, cognac, liqueurs), and soft drinks.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Bibendum PLB Group is a UK B2B wholesale distributor supplying the On Trade hospitality sector with wines (still, sparkling, rosé, red, fortified, non-traditional), champagne, spirits (cognac, whisky, tequila, mezcal, liqueurs, rum, vodka, gin), beer, cider, and soft drinks. The company runs the Bibendum Wine Online ordering portal for trade customers and provides a Training Hub delivering WSET qualifications, bespoke training, and e-learning. Founded in 1986 and headquartered in London, it is a subsidiary of C&C Group plc.

Product overview

Bibendum Wine is a UK-based wholesale wine, spirit, and beer distributor operating as an On Trade specialist serving Michelin-starred restaurants, cocktail bars, catering companies, and pub groups. The core offering is Bibendum Wine Online, an online ordering platform providing access to the full product portfolio. The company offers structured product categories including Wine & Sparkling, Champagne, Spirits & Softs, and Beer & Cider, complemented by Fine Wine for premium selections. Supporting services include the Training Hub (WSET courses, bespoke training, e-learning) and Wine Gym (educational content library). The company positions itself as a 40-year industry leader focused on sustainable and mindful winemakers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wine & Sparkling Still and sparkling wine portfolio (white, rosé, red, sparkling, fortified, non-traditional) sourced from curated mindful producers and supplied wholesale to UK On Trade hospitality venues.
• Champagne

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Harpers Wine & Spirit MagazinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBibendum has signed onto the Harpers Sustainability Charter as a 'Sustainability Champion', demonstrating commitment to sustainability practices in the drinks industry. This partnership aligns with their stated focus on partnering with mindful producers and pursuing positive impact on the planet and communities.
• Domaine Alexandre BonnetminorOthersNew Champagne producer added to Bibendum's portfolio. Domaine Alexandre Bonnet represents a recent addition to their curated producer lineup.
• LallierminorOthersChampagne house featured in Bibendum's portfolio, with brand imagery displayed on their website.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Enotria & Coe: One of the largest UK specialist wine and spirits distributors serving the On Trade with a comparable premium portfolio and field sales motion. Directly competes with Bibendum for Michelin-starred restaurants, hotel groups, and independent On Trade accounts.
• Hallgarten & Novum Wines: UK-focused premium wine and spirits importer and distributor serving independent On Trade and specialist retail customers. Closely overlaps Bibendum on premium producer portfolio and account-based trade relationships.
• Liberty Wines: UK wine importer and distributor specializing in family-owned, often organic/biodynamic producers for the On Trade. Highly comparable to Bibendum's 'mindful winemaker' positioning and premium restaurant customer base.
• Mentzendorff & Co: Historic UK wine and spirits merchant with a curated premium portfolio serving On Trade and independent retail. Comparable to Bibendum on Champagne/fine wine emphasis and trade education heritage.
• Berkmann Wine Cellars: UK family-owned wine importer and distributor with a strong On Trade and independent retail focus. Overlaps Bibendum on fine wine range, premium producer relationships, and field sales coverage of restaurants.

Broad incumbents

• C&C Group plc: Publicly listed Irish drinks conglomerate that owns Bibendum Wine Ltd. Relevant as Bibendum's parent — C&C's overall strategy, capital allocation, and portfolio rationalization directly affect Bibendum's trajectory.
• Diageo: Global premium spirits and beer major with significant UK On Trade presence and its own distribution infrastructure. Relevant as both a supplier source for Bibendum's spirits portfolio and a benchmark for premium On Trade execution.
• Matthew Clark: Large UK drinks wholesaler (formerly also under C&C Group) with broad beer, wine, spirits, and softs coverage across pubs, hotels, and restaurants. Overlaps Bibendum on On Trade wholesale but at much higher volume and broader-portfolio scale.
• Pernod Ricard: Global premium spirits and wine group with a major UK On Trade footprint via brands like Jameson, Malibu, and Pernod. Comparable as both a producer-supplier relationship to Bibendum and as a large-scale On Trade competitor.

Others

• Cellar Trends (now part of Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company): Larger UK On Trade drinks specialist with broad beer, wine, and spirits range supplying national pub and hospitality chains. Wider portfolio and customer base than Bibendum, but competes for similar On Trade accounts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bibendum-plb-group

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bibendum PLB Group