TWO former drinks industry executives who were seeking to build a £50m-turnover distribution business have seen the venture collapse into administration.

Dale Wharton, a former managing director at drinks importer Halewood International, and Derek Wade, previously head of the Boddington Pub Company, established the Manchester-based wholesaler Wharton Wade Wines in 2007 and bought 95-year-old distributor John Stephenson & Sons (Nelson) a year ago.

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