Orion Premium Lager is set for its first national retail roll out across 49 Waitrose stores in England, Wales and Guernsey. The move marks “a significant milestone for one of Japan’s more celebrated beer brands”, according to the brewer. Orion, which is distributed by independent brewing group, Sunrise Beverages., will be available in 49 Waitrose stores sold as a 4 x 330ml can…

Before her maternity leave kicks in this week, Jo Gilbert took a moment to pause and reflect with Pierpaolo Petrassi MW, who has now departed his category leading role at Waitrose for pastures new. There is a timely symmetry to my conversation with Pierpaolo Petrassi MW, one of the most enduringly influential names in modern drinks retail, who officially…

Both Waitrose and M&S have highlighted canned cocktails as an area of growth as we move into the summer months.  In a report published yesterday, Waitrose said that the RTD category grew by 11% compared to the same time last year.  Within this, canned sparkling wine sales rocketed by 70% and canned rosé wine jumped by 23%.  Elsewhere, sales of whisky-based…

Waitrose has become the first supermarket to back the Indie Beer campaign, started by the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates.  Beers from independent breweries will now appear in a new Indie Beer section of the Waitrose online store, excluding craft beers produced or owned by global beer companies.  Alongside the launch of the online section, Waitrose has…

Waitrose is doubling down on premium own-label wines and the fast-growing ‘better-for-you’ drinks segment as it looks to strengthen its position as “the high-street equivalent of a good old-fashioned merchant” this Christmas. Speaking at the retailer’s autumn tasting at Glaziers Hall, head of trading Pierpaolo Petrassi MW said the event – which has in the past been traditionally geared toward fortified wine, Champagne…

Waitrose MD James Bailey will step down from his role later this year, the supermarket announced today.  Bailey joined Waitrose in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic and steered the business through the lockdowns and subsequent cost-of-living crisis.  The team has not yet found a successor but is actively looking. Tina Mitchell, who currently holds the position of retail…

Beer club Beer52 has launched a mixed-brewery craft beer pack, set to roll out across Waitrose stores in the UK.  Featuring beers from independent breweries and described by Beer52 as a “significant milestone in the UK craft beer landscape,” this marks the first mixed-brewery craft beer pack available to consumers in stores.  Beer52 explained that the four selected cans were chosen after…