It was the picture of Princess Diana that got me. Sitting in an old frame, surrounded by peace lilies and a broken mantel clock, my first thought was that monarchism really does get everywhere. But then I realised Diana meant something more to the people of Sir Lowry’s Pass and I felt a sudden tightness in my stomach and a need to bite my…

As summer approaches Tom Khan-Lavin, chief executive of YesMore drinks marketing agency, looks at what’s hot and what’s not in the world of cocktails WHAT’S HOT THE CAFFEINE KICKThe Espresso Martini is back. This caffeinated concoction is the undisputed queen of the cocktail scene right now, with an average of a whopping 74,000 monthly Google searches. Famously invented by Dick Bradsell at…

Several traditional wine merchants are expanding their non-alcoholic offering to keep up with evolving consumer preferences, as the shift towards mindful drinking and health-conscious choices continues. But what’s really driving this change? Is it a passing trend, or are we witnessing a fundamental shift in the drinks industry? Should retailers be dedicating more shelf space to non-alcoholic options? Key factors fuelling growth…

Cleaning products usually boast more than one attribute. Some even go as far as saying they can do “5 in 1”. Is the drinks industry heading in the same direction, asks Lucy Britner While recessions and cost of living crises are tough on business, they often inspire innovation. As consumers look for ‘less but better’ in the drinks world, and companies continue to…

I knew Guinness had become cool when a friend told me they were considering a branded tattoo.    We meandered down the street one Saturday morning and they pointed to one of their triceps. Their forefinger landed on a patch of empty space. “I think it would look good here,” they said, and we stopped to imagine the stout drink nestled among the other…

In this new series Drinks Retailing spotlights the challenges people have faced during their career in the drinks industry – and shares ways others can overcome these obstacles in the future. In this first instalment, Alexandra Hale, head of marketing & communications at Armit Wines, shares her experience of having children and returning to work. I’ve been involved in the drinks industry for…

I’ve been reading a lot about the ancients over the past month, and specifically ancient Roman wine. It started out as research for a bespoke wine tasting that I delivered in December, and then it got out of hand. It’s quite astonishing how much was known about wine 2,000 years ago. Mago, the great agronomist of Carthage, recommended planting on north-facing slopes to…