Matthew Clark
Matthew Clark is a United Kingdom drinks wholesaler and distributor serving pubs, restaurants, bars and hotels.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Matthew Clark is a United Kingdom drinks distribution business whose principal customers are licensed hospitality operators, including public houses, restaurants, bars and hotels. The company traces its origins to 1810, when Matthew Clark established a wine and spirits business in London. For much of its independent history it traded as Matthew Clark and Sons and operated as a City of London importer and representative for overseas drinks producers. Its early business connected British merchants with major international suppliers, including J. & F. Martell of Cognac, John DeKuyper & Son of Rotterdam, and Pedro Domecq of Jerez. This importing and agency heritage gave the company a long-standing role in the British wine and spirits trade. The business occupied several London locations as it expanded. It was initially based in Great Tower Street, moved to Trinity Square at Tower Hill in 1925, relocated to Walbrook House in 1956, and later operated from the Finsbury Distillery premises. The Finsbury site had been associated with the production of Stone's Ginger Wine and was acquired by Matthew Clark in the 1960s. The company also broadened its manufacturing and distribution interests through the takeover of the Leeds-based J. E. Mather business, known for Barchester British Wine, during the period from 1965 to 1967. Six generations of the Clark and Gordon Clark families were involved while the company remained independent. Its historical archives were deposited with the Guildhall Library and later became part of the London Metropolitan Archives. Matthew Clark changed substantially during the late twentieth century. After becoming a London Stock Exchange-listed company in 1990, it pursued an acquisition-led expansion that brought drinks manufacturers and distributors such as Grants of St James's, Gaymer Cider Company, Taunton Cider Company, Freetraders, Dunn and Moore, and Griersons into its wider operations. In 1998, Matthew Clark plc was acquired by the United States-based Constellation Brands. The business subsequently acquired Forth Wines in 2002. Constellation sold a 50 percent interest to Punch Taverns in 2007, creating a jointly owned structure connected to one of the United Kingdom's major pub operators. The company’s cider interests were sold to Ireland-based C&C Group in 2010, leaving Matthew Clark principally positioned as an alcohol wholesaler rather than a diversified drinks manufacturer. In 2011, most of Constellation’s European business was divested to CHAMP Private Equity and subsequently became Accolade Wines. In 2015, Accolade Wines and Punch Taverns sold their respective 50 percent interests in Matthew Clark to Conviviality plc in a transaction valued at £200 million. Matthew Clark then operated within Conviviality Direct alongside Bibendum. That combined operation supplied more than 23,000 outlets, ranging from national hospitality chains to independent, food-led pubs and restaurants. Conviviality entered financial distress in 2018 after issuing several profit warnings and stating that it needed to raise substantial funds to avoid failure. Following the collapse of its attempted refinancing, Conviviality Direct, including Matthew Clark and Bibendum, was sold to C&C Group in April 2018 through a pre-pack administration transaction. Matthew Clark now operates as part of C&C Group’s United Kingdom drinks distribution activities. Its Bristol headquarters and nationwide sales organization support a portfolio of more than 7,000 alcohol lines and next-day delivery services for trade customers. The brand’s current role is therefore that of a broad-line hospitality wholesaler, combining drinks procurement, portfolio management, sales support and distribution rather than consumer-facing beverage manufacturing.
History
Matthew Clark began in London in 1810 as a wine and spirits enterprise founded by Matthew Clark, whose family background was closely connected to the Port of London’s imported-liquor trade. His father, Charles Clark, had served as Inspector General of Imported Liquors and Distillery and later as a merchants’ gauger for City of London wine and spirits firms. The younger Clark established a business that became known for many years as Matthew Clark and Sons. The company initially operated from Great Tower Street and later moved to 14 Trinity Square, Tower Hill, in 1925. It relocated to Walbrook House in 1956 and eventually occupied the Finsbury Distillery premises from 1972. Matthew Clark had acquired the Finsbury business in 1964; that site was associated with Stone’s Ginger Wine. The company also acquired the Leeds-based J. E. Mather business between 1965 and 1967. J. E. Mather manufactured Barchester British Wine, adding a domestic production and brand dimension to Matthew Clark’s traditional importing activities. Representation of overseas producers was central to the company’s nineteenth- and early twentieth-century identity. Its agency relationships included J. & F. Martell of Cognac from 1814, John DeKuyper & Son of Rotterdam by 1827, and Pedro Domecq, the Jerez sherry producer, until 1925. Six generations of the Clark and Gordon Clark families participated in the business while it remained independent. Records of the firm were deposited with the Guildhall Library and are now held by the London Metropolitan Archives, making the company’s archive relevant to research on the history of the British wine and spirits trade. A major strategic shift came in 1990, when Matthew Clark listed on the London Stock Exchange and began acquiring drinks manufacturers and distributors. Its acquisitions included Grants of St James’s, Gaymer Cider Company, Taunton Cider Company, Freetraders, Dunn and Moore, and Griersons. In 1998, Constellation Brands acquired Matthew Clark plc. Under Constellation, the company continued to participate in UK drinks distribution and acquired Forth Wines in 2002. Constellation sold half of the business to Punch Taverns in 2007. In 2010, Matthew Clark’s cider operations were sold to C&C Group, separating those manufacturing interests from the company’s wholesale distribution role. Constellation subsequently divested most of its European operation in 2011 to CHAMP Private Equity; that business later became Accolade Wines. In October 2015, Accolade Wines and Punch Taverns sold their 50 percent holdings in Matthew Clark to Conviviality plc for a reported £200 million. Matthew Clark became part of Conviviality Direct, operating alongside Bibendum and serving more than 23,000 hospitality outlets. Conviviality’s financial problems culminated in 2018. After three profit warnings in one month, the group said it required £125 million to avoid bankruptcy. It failed to secure the financing and announced that it intended to appoint administrators, placing approximately 2,600 jobs across the group at risk. In April 2018, C&C Group acquired Conviviality Direct, including Matthew Clark and Bibendum, through a pre-pack administration transaction. The business is now based at The Pavilions in Bristol. Its operations include a nationwide sales force of more than 230 employees and a portfolio of over 7,000 alcohol lines. Matthew Clark’s contemporary identity is principally that of a trade distributor supplying pubs, restaurants, bars and hotels across mainland Britain, rather than the diversified drinks manufacturer and publicly listed group it had become in the 1990s.
- 2018
Acquired by C&C Group
[1]C&C Group acquired Matthew Clark as part of its purchase of Conviviality Direct during Conviviality’s administration.
- 2015
Conviviality becomes owner
[1]Conviviality acquired the 50 percent holdings previously owned by Accolade Wines and Punch Taverns.
- 2010
Cider operations sold
[1]The company’s cider businesses were sold to C&C Group, sharpening its focus on wholesale distribution.
- 2007
Punch Taverns takes a 50 percent stake
[1]Constellation sold half of Matthew Clark to Punch Taverns.
- 2002
Forth Wines acquired
[1]Matthew Clark acquired Forth Wines.
- 1998
Acquired by Constellation Brands
[1]Constellation Brands acquired Matthew Clark plc.
- 1990
London Stock Exchange listing
[1]After listing, Matthew Clark began an acquisition programme covering drinks manufacturers and distributors.
- 1964
Finsbury Distillery acquired
[1]Matthew Clark took over the Finsbury Distillery business, later operating from its premises.
- 1925
Move to Trinity Square
[1]The business moved to 14 Trinity Square at Tower Hill in London.
- 1814
Martell representation begins
[1]The company began representing J. & F. Martell of Cognac, an early example of its international agency business.
Products and positioning
A broad-line UK drinks wholesaler focused on the hospitality and licensed-trade sector, combining national distribution, product range and account support.
Wholesale distribution
Trade alcohol portfolio
Matthew Clark supplies a broad range of alcoholic beverages to UK hospitality customers. The portfolio includes beer, cider, wine, spirits, champagne and sparkling wine, with more than 7,000 alcohol lines cited for the current operation. The offering is designed for trade customers rather than direct retail consumers and is supported by sales teams, account service and delivery logistics.
Cider manufacturing and distribution
Cider businesses
Cider was an important part of Matthew Clark’s historical drinks portfolio, including interests connected with businesses such as Gaymer Cider Company and Taunton Cider Company. These cider operations were sold to C&C Group in 2010 and are not described as part of Matthew Clark’s current core business.
Brand decisions
2018
Sale to C&C Group during Conviviality administrationM&ABackground
Conviviality was unable to raise the funds it said were necessary to avoid bankruptcy and entered an administration process.
Action taken
C&C Group bought Conviviality Direct, including Matthew Clark and Bibendum, through a pre-pack administration deal.
Aftermath
Matthew Clark became part of C&C Group’s drinks distribution operations and continued as a UK hospitality wholesaler.
2010
Sale of cider operationsStrategyBackground
Matthew Clark’s ownership structure and portfolio were being reshaped after its acquisition by Constellation Brands and subsequent partnership with Punch Taverns.
Action taken
The cider businesses were sold to C&C Group.
Aftermath
Matthew Clark was left primarily as an alcohol wholesaler and distributor.
1990
Expansion after public listingStrategyBackground
Following its London Stock Exchange listing, Matthew Clark sought to broaden its position in the drinks industry.
Action taken
The company acquired a range of drinks manufacturers and distributors, including Grants of St James’s, Gaymer Cider Company, Taunton Cider Company, Freetraders, Dunn and Moore, and Griersons.
Aftermath
The acquisitions expanded Matthew Clark beyond its historic importing and agency activities before its later ownership changes.
Sources1 sources
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