The History of Dunell’s

    Researched and compiled by Winston Pinel

     dunells1900x500.jpg
    Dunell's circa.1900

    In 1899, Edmund Dunell opened his bakery and confectionery in the village of Beaumont on the corner next to the Forester's Public House. His youngest brother, Clifford, joined him in the business. They were excellent bakers, as their statement heading of around 1916 confirms:- 'Awarded 3 Diplomas for Hovis Bread, Agent for Blue Cross Teas, Birthday and Wedding Cakes made to Order, Noted for Jersey Wonders'.

    dunells1908x500.jpg
    Dunell's circa.1908

    Guy Dunell, Edmund's nephew, joined them in 1935 straight from school. By this time, the grocery side of the business had become more important than the baking and Guy concentrated on the former, buying direct from manufacturers.

     beaumont1914x500.jpg
    Beaumont circa.1914

    During the occupation, they continued to bake bread with flour provided by the States of Jersey and sell whatever fruit and vegetables they were able to buy from local farmers. In September of 1944, when supplies became so scarce that there was very little left to distribute, their oven became the communal kitchen, baking twice a day for the village.
     
    dunells1925x500.jpg
    Dunell's circa.1925

    Edmund died in 1943, leaving the business to his nephews, Guy and Victor. When Victor came back from England to join Guy in the business, Guy decided to concentrate on groceries and the bakery side of the business was taken over by his brother-in-law, Bert Pinel, who built a new bakery across the road. Guy and Victor now traded as Dunell's of Beaumont, Family Grocers and Wine Merchants. Over the next few years, Guy began importing wines and spirits direct from France, Spain etc. to retail in their shop. In 1963, they obtained a Wholesale Licence, to enable them to sell wines and spirits to other shops. Two years later, Victor bought the grocery shop opposite known as 'Godfray's Stores' and Guy moved their Wholesale 'Cash and Carry' into their new premises, where they also began bottling wine imported in cask.
     
    dunells1955x500.jpg
    Dunell's circa.1955

    Winston Pinel, Guy's nephew, joined the business in 1968. The following year, they built a new wine store on the land behind the old Godfray's shop. At the same time, by creating a car park on their adjoining property, they were able to move their access from the dangerous and noisy roundabout to the quiet of the seaside. Now having more selling space, their wine business expanded rapidly. Winston was appointed Managing Director in 1971.

    Once again, the wine business outgrew the premises and, in 1975, the company bought a disused farm at St Peter, so that they were able to move their bottling plant and create more selling space at Beaumont. However, over the next two decades their main customers, the small shops, gradually either closed down or were taken over by chain stores. During this time, it became necessary to change their emphasis to selling direct to the public.

    Neil Pinel, Winston's son, joined the business in 1988. Once he had gained sufficient experience in the business, including numerous visits to their suppliers in France, Spain and Portugal, Neil was appointed Manager. He has made many new contacts, particularly with small winegrowers both in Europe and the New World and visits Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhône Valley each year to taste the 'en primeur' wines, so that he can recommend and offer the new vintages at the best prices. With his fresh input, he has made many improvements and has changed the premises from being a warehouse into a customer friendly retail shop, offering not only over 1600 different wines but 500 spirits and a wide a range of wine accessories and glasses.


    Liz Mitchell joined the team in 1997 with responsibility for sales and has had great success in opening up new markets for the company. Winston Pinel retired at the end of 1999 when Neil was appointed Managing Director and Liz, General Manager


    Since then, Dunell's has been through many more changes and facelifts and can now be regarded as Jersey's Leading Independent Wine Retailer offering many important products and services that set them apart from their competition. 

     

You have not viewed any products recently
Niels Blog
Your wine adventure starts here!
Keep up to date with latest goings on with our latest Blog Articles
Read more
Customer comments

"Great website, very quick and easy to use. And staff on the telephone very polite and helpful too. Well done!"

Kate