Sources inform ''Globes'' that the owners of independent supermarket chain Hazi Hinam Ltd. have acquired Binyamina Wine Cellars for $13.5 million. The deal includes the winery itself as well as the brand and real estate assets.
Binyamina Wine Cellars, which was founded in 1951, has changed hands several times. Its current owners, Danny Dimbort and Avi Lerner, took a 10% stake in the winery 1992 and then went on to acquire it in full in 1998. The winery is located on a 28-dunam lot in the center of Binyamina.
Binyamina Winery ended 2007 with NIS 45 million in turnover, 8% more than in 2006. Its turnover includes the distribution fee paid to Hamagash Hasheked. The company markets its products to retail chains and the institutional market (catering companies and public companies such as El Al).
22% of Binyamina Winery's turnover is based on export to kosher food markets in the US and in France, as well as general markets in the UK, Denmark, and South East Asia. The company also has a visitors center which is operated by a franchisee, and which generates an additional NIS 8 million in revenue a year.
Earlier this year, the company re-branded the winery at a cost of NIS 1 million. As part of the re-branding, the logo was replaced and the phrase "people who love wine" was added to the new one.
Hazi Hinam is the third largest retail chain in Israel, with a 5.5% share of the financial market according to Nielsen Ratings. It is owned by the Cooper-Lee family (67%) and Zahi Shalom (33%).
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on September 3, 2008
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