Turning redundancy into an opportunity

22/04/13

"Being made redundant is life changing but sometimes it can change your life for the better," says Ken Davey.

Former KPMG accountant, Ken Davey, has turned redundancy into an opportunity by building boutique business Smarter Grower Champagne from scratch.

It all started with a short holiday to the Champagne region, “After being made redundant, I felt I needed some time to unwind and give some thought to my future.”

Having previously run a country house hotel with his family, back in the early eighties, the hospitality industry once again was at the forefront of Ken’s mind as he and his partner toured the Champagne region, tasting the wines of the independent growers.

Little did he realise at the time that his love of Champagne, would become the focal point to launch a new career.

On their return to the UK, he used his 12 years of international sales and marketing experience with KPMG, to create a business that specialises in the import and wholesale of Grower Champagnes.

Ken runs the business with his partner Svetlana Lindholm. Their clients include the world famous Lanesborough Hotel; Mayfair wine merchants Vanquish Wine and, the “most romantic restaurant in London,” the Bleeding Heart.

Ken’s efforts in establishing a business in a recession were boosted when he was selected for our Innovating for Growth programme. This gave him access to expert advice and support tailored specifically to his business.

They now work with five grower Champagne Houses, all of whom produce approximately 150,000 bottles a year.

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