- Home
- Sectors
- Independents
Published: 29 September, 2025
Indies thrive on diversity – the defining quality that keeps businesses one step ahead of the supermarket next door. Promoting off-grid regions, esoteric varieties and boutique labels, independents have long prided themselves on being the antidote to mass-market uniformity, selling stories as much as wine. Yet in today’s climate – inflation remained stubbornly persistent at 3.8% in July – how sustainable is maintaining this breadth of choice? Is listing a rare variety, grown in a far-flung region, still financially viable? With margins squeezed by duty changes and shoppers under financial strain, the temptation to streamline is hard to resist.
Read more...
|
Published: 12 September, 2025
As the name Carouse suggests, Faye Buckle’s soon to open Bristol indie merchant aims to keep wine social and fun. Oliver Catchpole taps in.
Read more...
Published: 22 August, 2025
Fourth & Church restaurant and wine shop in Hove, East Sussex, has won the inaugural 31 Days of German Wine, an expanded version of the 31 Days of German Riesling campaign which ran for over a decade.
Read more...
Independent wine shop Seven Cellars in the Seven Dials neighbourhood of Brighton has been given an eviction date of 26th November by the Co-op. The date lands at the start of festive trading period, as the national retailer seeks to expand an existing store.
Read more...
“You don’t earn loyalty in a day. You earn loyalty day by day,” counselled US marketing guru and author Jeffrey Gitomer. Yet despite the clear advantages, customer loyalty schemes – ubiquitous across many retail sectors – remain an underused resource among UK independents. The question is, why?
Read more...
Creativity among independent retailers is not only a natural product of many proprietors’ entrepreneurial spirit, but increasingly a necessity to help them negotiate the laundry list of financial headwinds they face. Many indie merchants have shown great adaptability, both in terms of in-store and online retail settings, exploring new revenue streams and reinvigorating existing ones to help weather the storm.
Read more...
Published: 07 March, 2025
As the usual business headwinds seemingly turn to a howling gale, we once again
ask the independent merchants’ sector for their take on what the year ahead holds.
Read more...
Published: 10 January, 2025
Once again we reveal our 50 Best Indies, highlighting the most dynamic merchants in the wine and spirits world.
Read more...
Published: 08 January, 2025
Each year our 50 Best Indies entries reveal a wealth of innovative ideas and interesting initiatives. Ahead of the big reveal in January, we shared just some of those – both serious and more fun – that caught our eye.
Read more...
Published: 06 December, 2024
Next up in our end of year trade talking heads is Archie McDiarmid, manager at Luvians Bottleshop in St Andrews, as he reflects on a tough ride for the trade.
Read more...
Published: 04 December, 2024
Liberty Wines’ first ever Independent Off-Trade Wine Report paints a cautiously optimistic picture for the future. Jo Gilbert reports
Read more...
Published: 22 November, 2024
Entrepreneur, cheese enthusiast and media personality Jessica Summer has opened her first shop and bar in the London Borough of Harrow.
Read more...
Published: 15 October, 2024
The government’s proposed ‘biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation’ could stifle job creation in independent shops and place further financial pressures on already struggling retailers, the Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) has warned.
Read more...
Published: 02 October, 2024
With costs up and margins squeezed, Andrew Catchpole assesses the pros and cons of sharing on smaller shipments of wine.
Read more...
Published: 30 August, 2024
With a generational fall-off hitting the trade, Andrew Catchpole looks at what steps indie merchants are taking to pull in younger punters.
Read more...
Published: 28 August, 2024
The National President of the Fed (Federation of Independent Retailers) has written to the new Secretary of State for Business and Trade to highlight the impact of higher wages on smaller businesses.
Read more...
Published: 21 August, 2024
Amathus, the drinks importer, distributor and retailer, is expanding its retail presence from nine to 14 locations, with the introduction of its first Wine Warehouse in East Sheen, South West London.
Read more...
Published: 21 August, 2024
For the thirteenth year running, July saw the UK trade dedicating the month to German Riesling, with 135 venues nationwide participating in a series of events, including German Riesling masterclasses, in-store promotions, wine dinners and social media initiatives.
Read more...
Published: 02 August, 2024
James Lawrence looks to the evolving role of indie buying groups in response to recent trends.
Read more...
James Lawrence finds that ‘hybrid’ wine shops with a food and drink-in offer are not always a panacea.
Read more...
