Bargain Booze franchisees fear for their livelihood as beleaguered parent company Conviviality desperately tries to raise funds to stop it from going under. The group, which also owns Wine Rack, Matthew Clark and Bibendum, needs to raise £125 million from investors to shore up its finances following a calamitous week. It has issued three profit warnings to the City and seen its share price collapse,…

Conviviality chief executive Diana Hunter said the group’s half-year results represent a “great result” for franchisees. The Bargain Booze, Wine Rack and Select Convenience franchisees increased their margins by 0.8% on average compared to the same period last year, but Hunter pointed out that many are now shareholders and they will also benefit from the soaring share price. Conviviality shares have grown 37% in the…

Conviviality has quadrupled its turnoverin four years after buying Matthew Clark, Bibendum PLB and Wine Rack, but chief executive Diana Hunter insists it is not “deal hungry”. Hunter joined Bargain Booze in 2013 after setting up Little Waitrose and recognised its potential to wholesale not just to franchisees but to the entire trade. She immediately rebranded it Conviviality and led it through a successful IPO,…

More than 200 Bargain Booze and Wine Rack franchisees have seen their loyalty rewarded with shares in the business. Owner Conviviality Retail handed out 1 million shares as part of the group’s three-year Franchisee Incentive Plan it devised after Diana Hunter took over as chief executive. The 224 franchisees, who run 318 stores, will each receive a number of shares based on how well their…

Bargain Booze and Wine Rack owner Conviviality grew retail revenues by 0.8% to £366.9 million in the past year thanks to growing like-for-likes and store openings. The number of stores in the empire swelled by 15% to 716 in the year to May 1, 2016, thanks in part to the acquisition of 37 GT News shops. Like-for-like sales for franchisees were up 1.3%, a strong…

Bargain Booze, Thorougoods and Wine Rack franchisees should see margins boosted as they benefit from greater buying power after parent company Conviviality snapped up Bibendum PLB for £60 million, according to its chief executive. Since joining the firm three years ago, Diana Hunter has floated the business on the stock market, snapped up a host of rival chains – including Wine Rack, Rhythm & Booze…

Bargain Booze and Thorougoods franchisees will share around £180,000 in bonuses under a reward scheme launched by owner Conviviality Retail. Conviviality said most franchisees had hit targets and would be entitled to cash under the scheme’s first series of payments, which will be made this month. They receive a bonus on a quarterly basis and payments are graduated so that the more stores a Franchisee…