The Royal Courts of Justice in London, England.
Founded in 2020 by Jamie Wynne-Griffiths, a longtime member of the wine trade, Propeller Wine was initially touted as a breath of fresh air in the UK wholesaling sector.
Four years later, and one former supplier has appointed solicitors to file a winding-up petition against Propeller’s parent company Wild Ferment.
The hearing is due to be heard at the Royal Courts of Justice in London today (28 August), with the creditor (who has asked not to be named) chasing for unpaid dues that they claim amount to more than £30,000.
Decanter is aware of several other former suppliers who also claim to be owed money by Propeller, but the exact number of creditors and how much they are owed is, as yet, unclear.
High ambitions
Propeller’s aim was to be a more equitable business model that offered ‘distribution as a service’.
Decanter understands that despite quickly attracting a number of suppliers, including some high-profile names, relations eventually turned sour with many.
Former suppliers have complained of slow sales, the absence of a stable, long-term sales representative in Greater London, and the fact that while payments were forthcoming at first, they soon became irregular.
Despite receiving confirmation of sales, numerous suppliers Decanter has spoken to claim they have been waiting on unpaid invoices for extended periods. Many say they have not been paid since the summer or autumn of last year.
The suppliers claim that Wynne-Griffiths made repeated promises about their payments but often
