The firm behind online retailer 31Dover.com and supplier Vanquish Wine is using its ecommerce expertise to branch out into the world of drinks marketing. DMD Ventures has launched a digital marketing agency called DMDA that provides producers with constantly updated data about the types of shoppers their drinks are appealing to. It has already worked with Diageo to promote Captain Morgan, Ciroc, Seedlip and Tanqueray…

The Drinks Agency has signed a deal to distribute the new Belgium small-batch premium spirits brand Havn in the UK. The deal will give the online retailer exclusive rights to distribute Havn’s portfolio of premium rum and gin products to the UK and Ireland markets. The Havn collection includes four different gins and four rums, all with subtly complex profiles that represent the four corners…

Collaboration is a hot topic among independent wine merchants as they bid to increase margins, overcome barriers to trade and fend off the multiples. We caught up with Tim Carlisle, new business manager at Vindependents – an agency owned by and solely catering to indies – to explore the pros and cons of working collegiately.  For any readers unaware of Vindependents, could…

Craftwork, a new spirits marketing distribution agency, is being launched into the UK market. The company, headed by drinks expert Jeremy Rockett, has been set up to develop distribution in the UK for a range of spirit, mixer and beer brands. The agency will cover the entire UK market from segments of the on-trade to online retailers, wine shops and multiple grocers in the off-trade.

Woodwinters plans to open a new London office to create a wholesale operation across the UK. The company, which was originally set up in 2005 by Douglas Wood, is a Scottish fine wine merchant with three retail shops in Edinburgh, Bridge of Allan and Inverness. It also has a wholesale and private client division importing wines from all over the world and specialising in wines…

The National Wine Agency of Georgia has launched a “major” 2017 UK trade campaign to build on record exports to the UK in 2016. The agency announced this month that first-quarter exports for 2017 are up by 85% on the same period last year. The campaign will be focused on raising the profile of Georgian Wines in the UK and expanding distribution in independent on…

Edrington has appointed Edinburgh-based The Leith Agency to handle all global above-the-line, below-the-line and digital activation for its iconic The Famous Grouse brand. The agency has been instrumental in developing the brand’s global Famous For A Reason campaign. It will now be able to lead the roll-out and development of that campaign in The Famous Grouse’s key international markets. The whisky is exported to some…