In an industry where companies are consolidating and international importer/agents are trimming down their range of products, The Bacchus Group supports their producers in choosing products which are vibrant, high quality and targeted to the Western Canadian market.

Jim Marion: "We have always made it our priority to maintain our reputation via the brands which we supply to the market; Each brand comes to us with its own personality and its own reputation. We have long- term commitments and history with our brands and this allows us to understand them intimately, resulting in successful brand strategies produced to increase sales.

Our Company has been in operation for over 40 years; we have had time to hone the way we do business and yet we are still flexible enough to adjust quickly to changing market conditions. Our people are passionate, dynamic and results-oriented. We have been able to place all of these components together and we continue to realize the success of our strategy."

Bacchus continues as one of the few remaining mid-size independent importers. Both Jim and Roger Marion continue to strengthen Bacchus, as is evident from the company's solid retained earnings as well as it's access to mid-seven figure line of bank credit.

The Bacchus Group was founded in 1961, by Heinz Niemann, a German immigrant to Canada, who originally started the business by becoming an agent for specialty products familiar to him from his native Germany.

With the growth of Bacchus came the partnership with Mr. Roger Marion. Roger had been partners with Heinz in commercial real estate developments and with a keen interest in wines became a partner in The Bacchus Group in 1978.

In 1986 Mr. Jim Marion joined Bacchus. Working with Heinz and his father Roger, he learned all the aspects of the business. He became involved in the Beverage Alcohol Council of Alberta and along with Roger, supplied input to what would eventually lead to be, in 1993, the first privatized alcohol market in Canada.

With the business in Alberta firmly established, in 1995 the head office of Bacchus was moved to Vancouver, British Columbia. Jim consolidated order processing for Alberta and British Columbia and created an in house marketing role geared to each individual market. Jim has been an active participant in the alcohol industry, having served two years first as an executive member, then as the president of the Import Vintners and Spirits Association (IVSA). He currently remains on the executive as a past President.