SH Jones, a UK-based family-owned online wine merchant, has purchased the assets of online wine retailer Ribica International, trading as Slurp.co.uk, for an undisclosed amount, after it was put into administration.
The purchase includes Slurp's software system, any unsold stock and all the staff.
The move follows the recent acquisition of online wine retailer Hawkshead Wines by SH Jones in January 2013.
Established in 2004, Slurp.co.uk is known for offering users with rare, premium single bottles of wines delivered right to their doors.
SH Jones commercial manager and Hawkshead Wines former proprietor Greg Shaw told Harpers that they discovered very early on during the integration of Hawkshead and SH Jones that the strengths and synergies of bringing together an online business and a traditional bricks-and-mortar business can be a very successful combination.
"The addition of Slurp is a very exciting development, and gives a very strong presence in online retailing and the base to develop the business further in the future," Shaw added.
"Hawkshead Wines has an outstanding reputation for customer service and combining this with Slurp's innovative and extensive range, we believe that SH Jones will become one of the country's leading internet retailers."
