Cowichan Valley Toasts A Passionate Wine Lover

After 25 years in retail, the new owner of Wine Kitz in Duncan is no stranger to the winemaking industry.  His love for winemaking began in 2002 sparking an entrepreneurial passion for high quality wines. “I knew I fit in well in this industry,” says Mr. Ron Tanguay, who previously owned and operated two restaurants in Cambridge, Ontario. Since the inception of Wine Kitz in 1959, the franchise has been the leader in the consumer winemaking industry and today is one the world’s largest and most respected winemaking retailers. And that’s what motivated Mr. Tanguay to seriously explore a career opportunity in something he loved: wine.


While browsing the Net, Tanguay came across a winemaking business for sale, clear across the country on Vancouver Island.  He contacted the listing brokerage, Sunbelt Business Brokers in Nanaimo to get the process started.  “Being at such a distance, I was very pleased at how easily and quickly they were able to get the ball rolling for me,” he says about Sunbelt.  “The company handled everything from writing up the offer to negotiations to due diligence to closing, and they did a great job of making sure the transaction went through in an orderly way.”  “Since taking over Wine Kitz, Ron has seen a substantial increase in business” says owner of Sunbelt Nanaimo, Mr. Michael Naprawa, who is delighted in Ron’s continued success.  “In most cases,” says Naprawa, “buying an existing business is less risky than starting from scratch. When you buy a business, you take over an operation that's already generating cash flow and profits. You have an established customer base and reputation—and you don't have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to setting up new procedures, systems and company policies.  It’s also easier to get financing as bankers generally feel more comfortable dealing with a business that has a proven track record—less risk equates to a stronger comfort zone, a huge plus for a new business owner.”

Sunbelt provides outstanding resources, expertise and people who are dedicated to the success of its clients, both buyers and sellers of business. You are welcome to visit www.sunbeltnetwork.com/vancouverisland or call 250-751-7917 to learn more about what Sunbelt can do for you. And feel free, if you are a fan of great wine, to drop into the new and improved Wine Kitz at 10-180 Central Road in Duncan, BC or call Ron at 250-715-0200 to view the fine wine selections or order your kit.