October marked the 100th anniversary of Samuel Smith & Son, founded in Adelaide in 1923 by Percy and Walter Grandy Smith.
Fifth generation industry member and chairman Robert Hill-Smith reflected on the milestone.
“You’ve always needed luck and a friendly banker in this business. We were orchardists, grapegrowers, winemakers and wine merchants. During the Great Depression, dried and canned fruit provided the cash flow that allowed us to come out the other side and focus on winemaking,” he said.
“We are now focused on wine as a distributor, but the likes of Dewars, Bacardi, Kahlua, White Horse and Gibleys gave us access to the broader trade, which taught us the importance of depth and diversity in distribution to make ourselves relevant and valued partners,” he added.
Executive Director Sales – ANZ Paul Midolo spoke of Samuel Smith & Son’s success.
“Our business has seen many ups and downs during this time and we are pleased to say that we are as strong as ever, built on relationships with our loyal customers and a folio depth and breadth that is unmatched in the industry,” Midolo said.
“We pride ourselves on human connections, with a dedicated team of fine wine professionals who share our passion for wine and people. Our team is equipped to provide customized and relevant solutions for each of our customers to increase value and enhance the buying or drinking experience,” he concluded.
