Majestic is embarking on a six-week “festival of fundraising” to raise money for its Majestic Charitable Foundation.  The Small Majestic Acts campaign will see teams from across the business raise money in a variety of ways throughout September and in early October. The company said the aim was to show how small gestures from colleagues, customers and suppliers can add up to…

Drawing on almost five decades in Birmingham, Stirchley Wines & Spirits has evolved from a traditional neighbourhood off-licence into one of the UK’s best-known independent beer specialists. Jo Gilbert caught up with owner Krishan Rajput to find out moreWhen my father first opened Stirchley Wines & Spirits in 1979, it was a very traditional off-licence. Back then, businesses tended to stay firmly in their…

Jo Gilbert hears from Luke Jones, ethics, sustainability performance & engagement manager at Waitrose, about regenerative agriculture, packaging innovation, premiumisation and why sustainability remains central to the long-term strategy What does winning Sustainable Retailer of the Year at the Drinks Retailing Awards 2026 mean to you and to Waitrose?It’s a fantastic recognition of our ongoing work to champion lower-impact producers, reduce packaging and…

Beer and cider sales slowed a little after the end of the World Cup, but the unusually hot weather has brought sustained growth into August, according to latest figures from NIQ. Beer and cider value was up 4.8% during the four weeks to August 8 versus the corresponding period in 2025. This was a slight deceleration from the 6.2% growth seen…

Fortnum & Mason has unveiled a collection of fruit-forward red wines, to tap into the growing consumer interest in chilled red wines. Each bottle in the range has been carefully selected to be enjoyed lightly chilled, which the retailer says will “bring out their bright fruit, freshness and versatility”. Newcomers to the collection include Fortnum’s Beaujolais, produced by Maison Piron; Fortnum’s Valipolicella,…

Fortnum & Mason has introduced the first release in its new Amalthea Experimental Series. Pineapple Rum, a small batch bottling handcrafted at Fortnum’s Piccadilly distillery, has been created by hand cutting and gently batch drying whole fresh pineapples in house, before macerating them in a blend of five cask aged Caribbean rums. The result is a rich and vibrant spirit, which is described…

Compagnia del Gusto Holding (CDGH) has acquired Jascots Wine Merchants from Freixenet Copestick, which purchased the supplier in 2020. Established in 1986, the deal marks a new stage of development for Jascots as it looks to scale up its business. It also signifies a new chapter for CDGH, which is entering the UK market through the acquisition.  Assuming responsibility for the administrative and…