Meet the buyers: Shaun Healy, LWC Drinks

This month’s Meet the Buyers series zones in on some of the best suppliers the to UK’s vibrant on-trade.

Meet the buyers: Berenger Piras

James Lawrence continues his buyer-focused odyssey, speaking to some of the most influential names in the business

Meet the buyers: Andrew Shaw

James Lawrence continues his buyer-focused odyssey, speaking to some of the most influential names in the business 

Meet the Buyers: Darren Willis, owner, Grape & Grind

Like many professionals working in the trade, a career in wine was never part of the original plan – I studied mechanical engineering at university, graduating in 1997. Yet after completing a WSET course in London, I applied for a position at Harvey Nichols in 2001. I soon fell in love with both the people and subject, a passion that endures today.

Meet the buyers: James Hocking, The Vineyard Cellars

Harpers gets the lowdown from specialist retailer buyer James Hocking, wine director at The Vineyard Cellars

Meet the buyers: Alistair Viner, Hedonism

Harpers gets the lowdown from Alistair Viner, head buyer at Hedonism

Meet the buyers: Edward Gerard, Harrods

Harpers gets the lowdown from specialist retailer buyer Edward Gerard, buying manager for wines, spirits and cigars at Harrods

Meet the Buyers: Purchasing power

James Lawrence catches up with buyers from some of the UK’s leading agent-importers

Indies must set the agenda with suppliers to be better buyers hears Harpers conference

It does not matter how good you are at tasting wine, if there is one skill every independent merchant must master it is the power to get the most out of the suppliers you choose to supply your wine.

Mitchells & Butlers: what on-trade buyers are looking for from their suppliers

Former Somerfield wine buyer and restaurant consultant Angela Mount asks Henry Boyes, wine procurement manager for Mitchells & Butlers, what suppliers need to do to satisfy the largest on-trade group in the UK.

Meet Mark Jarman, head of wine operations, Morrisons

"We are developing a strategy that is collaborative and essentially, the rationale for this is that the buying role is massive with a lot details day to day. It is very hard in a traditional wine-buying structure to give the time and resources required to the sourcing element because it is a very complex sector and product"

Meet Trish Lorimer, wine buyer, Morrisons

"It has been very exciting. I have been on the sourcing team for two and half years. In that time it has changed beyond all recognition, with the focus that has been put on wine since Steve [Mosey] has got the team structure that he wants and the layout."

Meet Laura Sheen, wine buyer, Morrisons

"One of the biggest challenges I have been tasked with is Morrisons Cellar. It's a really interesting challenge and it is still fairly early days. We are really trying to get the message right around wine online. As part of the online buying experience, Taste Test is part of that design."

Meet Jonathan Olding, wine buyer, Morrisons

"We all have completely different strengths in completely different areas. It does help a lot to be able to have different members of the team able to focus on the very different areas. We have massively different experiences in wine from some of us with only a little bit too expert levels, but it all helps to strengthen the overall structure of the team."

Meet Georgina Reed, wine buyer, Morrisons

"As a buyer merchandising in under £5 and under£ 8, what is actually on the shelf the quality is there and we are delivering. For over £8, we need the proper quality of the wine to really come through. If someone is buying an over-£8 bottle then they know their wine, so we need to make sure we get that right."

Meet the buyers: The Wine Society

Meet the buyers: Laithwaites Wine

Meet the buyers: Matthew Clark

Meet the Buyers: Booths

Northern supermarket chain Booths has traditionally built its reputation on word of mouth but, as Carol Emmas discovers, it is increasingly having to use harder commercial tactics while keeping its quality-first image

Meet the buyers: Morrisons