Matt Steinhofel

Matt has over 20 years' experience working in different hospitality industries in South Africa, United States and the UK. Starting in the casual dining sector at aged 18 as an Assistant Manager for the Mugg & Bean coffee chain in South Africa. Matt moved to Miami Florida in 2002 and started working with Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise company with over 100 ships over 10 brands including P&O, Cunard, Holland America and Carnival to name a few.

Matt has lived in the UK since 2005 working within the Sales and Marketing team at Premier Automotive Group (PAG) which had Land Rover, Jaguar, Aston Martin Lagonda, Volvo and the Ford GT.

In 2007 Matt joined the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) where he ran the membership for 8 years and grew it from 9,500 venues to over 23,500 by 2015 with big multiple groups like Stonegate Pubs, Greene King, Mitchells and Butlers, JD Wetherspoon, Punch Taverns, Admiral Taverns, EI Group. Casual dining groups like Carluccios, TGI Fridays, Cote, Byron and late-night groups like Deltic, Living Ventures, Ministry of Sound to name a few. The last 5 years Matt has been a hospitality consultant working with various brands in the on-trade and growing to over a dozen clients.

Simon Davies

Simon has over 30 years’ experience in the drinks industry, the last 15 years focusing on brand placement and implementing business plans in the export markets. He has worked for Diageo, Guinness, Halewood International, Russian Co, and EWG, on their portfolio of brands.

His last eight years have been with Chase Distillery who have been acquired by Diageo, a complete full circle.

Simon has a wealth of experience placing new brands throughout export markets and now has his own consultancy company, Export Drinks, who is working closely with On-Trade Consultancy developing beverages into the worldwide drinks market.

Luke Wade

Luke has over 20 years’ experience in the UK On-Trade having started his career as a marketing manager looking after Budweiser Budvar, Erdinger and Leffe beer.

It was upon joining SAB Miller that Luke then embarked upon his journey into sales where he managed the London team for the launch of draught Peroni as well as securing the first strategic draught accounts for Pilsner Urquell including Geronimo Inns and Corney and Barrow.

Luke joined COS brands in 2007 where he was instrumental in launching Kopparberg Cider and the brand enjoyed exponential growth. As On-Trade Controller Luke managed and mentored the national sales team before moving on and setting up his own drinks company, Proof Drinks.

Proof Drinks was set up in 2011 to help challenger brands launch in the marketplace and partnerships were formed with the likes of Spendrup’s brewery (Pistonhead Lager), Toorank (Rebellion Rum and Sloane's Gin) and numerous other brand clients.

On leaving the Proof Drinks set-up Luke has continued to work in the drinks industry with his own consultancy business offering mentoring, brand strategy and implementation for various brands.

Julian Penny

Julian is a passionate drinks consultant with more than 25 years’ experience working within the on-trade. Dedicated to brand development, Julian assists companies in nurturing relationships and securing new business. An expert in sales, marketing and above all, beverages, Julian has helped countless organisations from independent start-ups through to established names – to reach their full potential.

From 2004 to 2009, Julian harnessed his skills with independent UK drinks company Global Brands. In his roles as National Account Manager, On-trade and Export Manager, Julian developed new business through above supply routes, gaining profitable brand listings and distribution for the likes of VK and Corky’s. Some of his key accounts included Pernod Ricard, The Beer Seller, HB Clarke, NDD, Independent Wholesale, LA Drinks Northern Ireland and regional brewers Everards and Fullers to name but a few..

Julian also spent 6 years with Krombacher Brauerie as Sales Agent for the UK, during this time, he negotiated and secured extensive listings for a number of brands - namely Pils and Weizen - and controlled PR and advertising budgets, working closely with media partners to raise the awareness and profile of Krombacher to a point where everyone had heard about it from Lands End to John O Groats! (Mission Accomplished)

To date, Julian has worked closely with the likes of Blackwater Distillery, Hofmeister Brewing Company, Super Bock and Navigation Brewery on a consultancy basis. Recently, Julian has co-founded an exciting new business, PEM Australia/UK, and continues to creatively collaborate with beer and spirits brands within the UK and globally.

Clara Bernabe

Clara is a skilled sales expert with extensive experience in the hospitality and customer service sectors. Being multicultural and having lived and worked in over 9 different countries, Clara has gained good interpersonal skills, and can effectively communicate on a variety of levels, with the ability to self-manage and motivate herself. She believes effective communication is an essential part of business development. Clara thrives in working internally as part of a team and externally with key stakeholders in order to reach her targeted audience. We can't wait to get our clients' products/services out there with our On-Trade Field sales department now that the team is up and running.

Nick Burton

Nick is an experienced salesperson and brand builder who has worked across the beer trade for over 25 years in a variety of roles. Beginning work with a national drinks wholesaler he moved to represent Budweiser Budvar at BB Supply and then to a National Account Controller position at Specialist Brand Development, working with Paulaner, Cruzcampo and the UK launch of Amstel. Following this Nick worked as sole UK Sales Agent for Paulaner Brauerei GmbH and UK Brand Manager for Früli (Van Diest Beer Company).

Adam Carnell

Adam has a passion for transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary through design. Having achieved a BA First Class Honours Degree in Graphic Design from De Montfort University, Adam went on to become a full-time freelance designer.

With talented skills in branding, brand packaging, web and graphic design Adam has built up an amazing portfolio enabling brands such as Desperados, MyMatcha Tea and our more recently our client Singolo Wines to achieve their design visions, professionally and successfully.