A message from our CEO Patrick McGrath.
Dear Hatch Friends,
2024 is the year that marks three decades since the founding of Hatch Mansfield. Where has the time gone?!
When Pierre Henry Gagey, Eduardo Chadwick, George Fistonich and I ‘hatched’ the idea of creating a small, focussed agency house, we had no idea that the business would grow into one of the U.K’s premium wine agency businesses. Our aim from the start was that the Hatch team would manage and have in-depth knowledge of a select number of premium, independently-owned producers and be seen as their UK arm, thereby giving the wineries more control over their destiny. We wanted to be a wine company known for our excellent portfolio and superlative customer service.
Whilst these core values have remained unchanged, it is a long time since Mark Calver, Philip Tuck and myself had a cleaning rota and took it in turns to empty the bins! From these humble origins, we are now a thriving 70-person strong company proudly representing 21 world-class wineries. This truly is down to our extraordinary family of producers, our loyal customers and the brilliant Hatch team.
I am immeasurably proud of my team. We have managed to grow the business in a consistent and considered way. We have a large number of employees who have been a vital part of the team for over 20 years, for instance. There is huge loyalty and the team is so hard working with a total ‘can do’ attitude.
And so what next? The exciting news of Domaine Evremond marks a new chapter in our evolution. We are now brand owners as well as brand distributors and look forward to welcoming you all to Kent once the winery has opened its doors this Autumn.
My overriding wish is to continue to build Hatch, whilst retaining our values, service levels and above all our sense of humour.
Here’s to the next thirty years…
Best wishes,
Patrick McGrath MW, CEO