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By Andrew Catchpole
Printed: 08 September, 2021
Welcome to the discharge of our third tranche of our 50 Greatest Indies listing, from 21-30, additionally that includes all of those who have made it into the rating from 31-50.
We are going to proceed to launch the outcomes, counting up, 10 a day, till the ultimate High 10 is unveiled this Friday (10 September) at 11am throughout a reside webinar with these main retailers.
To register for Friday’s remaining reveal, please follow the link here.
50 Greatest Indies 21-30
Congratulations from the Harpers staff to all beneath who’ve made it on to our UK’s 50 Greatest Indies 2021 thus far…
21.CHILLED & TANNIN, CARDIFF
(WALES STANDOUT)
‘Genuine’ is a phrase used lots, however at this new-entrant Welsh service provider it interprets as a real dedication to sustainably targeted producers – those who actually care about their setting and what they put within the bottle. Or, as this crew places it, “bodacious wines with a conscience”. The result’s an inventory, and a vibe, that delivers recent pleasure and refreshing wines, all washed down with enthusiasm and impartial gusto from the three chaps behind this new wave indie.
22. BERRY BROS & RUDD, LONDON
This can be Britain’s oldest wine and spirit service provider, however it’s one which has consistently developed and moved with the instances. Its retail base and HQ in St James’s is complemented by workplaces in Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan, plus a busy wine college within the London cellars, sturdy enterprise with personal purchasers and a not too long ago trimmed wholesale arm. Cellar plans, wine funding providers, warehousing, schooling and personal occasions are all on provide right here, along with a far-reaching portfolio of high quality wines and spirits.
23. TIVOLI WINES, CHELTENHAM
That is an indie that describes itself as “an experience-led” retailer, with The Wine Library – a tasting room that includes 32 wines on Enomatic – plus The Grape College, providing “enjoyable and informative” wine experiences. Including to this combine are soon-to-be-launched Tivoli excursions of wineries, distilleries and brewers throughout the three counties surrounding the enterprise. This service provider can be a giant champion of English and Welsh wines, with a powerful programme of on-line occasions backing this up, together with ample tasting within the hybrid retailer. And the native focus is clearly working, tripling gross sales in simply 5 years.
24. CONNOLLY’S WINE MERCHANTS, BIRMINGHAM
Climbing some 21 locations, this Birmingham and Solihull-based service provider really offered off its wholesale arm final yr, to refocus as a substitute on getting its retail coronary heart 100% proper. There’s a hybrid aspect to the enterprise too, plus a revamped vary targeted on extra modest portions of, for instance, Langhe Nebbiolo, Maule Valley Semillon and different boutique wines that nearly invariably have a fascinating story behind them. Lockdown initiatives laid the foundations for additional evolution, corresponding to a month-to-month subscription service, serving to introduce new prospects to Croatia, Georgia, Portugal and Greece. In the meantime, on-line and residential supply additionally continued to stay sturdy, and there’s a brand new wine bar on its method quickly.
25. SOUTH DOWNS CELLARS, SUSSEX
At 25 sits a two-branch Sussex service provider that’s a lot immersed in shopping for from, promoting to and dealing carefully with native and regional producers. It additionally folds in a broader, complementary retail and wholesale operation that provides regional pubs, eating places and accommodations. All of this has been tied collectively in what South Downs Cellars describes as 360-degree “store entrance mentality”, which permits an holistic relationship with all prospects. Driving each retail and on-line gross sales up – the latter by 1,251% – in the course of the pandemic, this has been achieved by placing the shopper on the coronary heart of all this indie does.
26. THE GOOD WINE SHOP, LONDON
This west London enterprise’ strapline – “Good wine, actual folks, nice tales” – completely holds true throughout its four-shop portfolio. The wine provide includes smaller, family-run producers of high quality, with sustainability and persona all a part of an attractive mix. The vary consistently rotates, too, with the likes of Morocco, Japan and Mexico all in the latest combine. That is backed by a consistently evolving sequence of selling actions and occasions, all designed to deliver prospects and budding wine lovers nearer to the winemakers behind the wines. An indie brimming with vitality and modern strategy.
27. WOODWINTERS, SCOTLAND
With 40% of wines being shipped direct from producers of ‘integrity’, this Inverness-born firm has since grown a formidable personal shopper base, together with a thriving wholesale enterprise that now has its personal London workplace. Managing to carry 2,000 high quality wines at a time, with a rotation of three,000 offered all year long, none of this may add as much as a lot if it wasn’t for the spectacular service, data and fervour supplied to personal, retail and commerce prospects alike.
28. THEATRE OF WINE, LONDON
From hand-picked classics to unique finds from rising areas, this service provider has all of it and backs this up with a tirelessly accessible strategy to engagement that has delivered 1,000 (digital) tastings in the course of the pandemic alone. Brexit, then the Covid disaster, additionally impressed this operator to evolve many points of its enterprise, together with employees coaching, inventory and gross sales methods, advertising and marketing, and tie-ins with platforms corresponding to Deliveroo. On the coronary heart of all of it lies a dedication in speaking to the shopper the actually pleasurable expertise delivered by nice wines, spirits and beers.
29. AMPS WINE MERCHANTS, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
With its impeccable core vary remaining largely unaltered throughout lockdowns, this high quality service provider nonetheless expanded its entry degree, profitable away grocery store prospects, and preserving them hooked with a mixture of improved on-line presence, social media and devoted retail customer support. Amps’ web site gross sales rose 650% in the course of the pandemic, underpinned by extremely widespread Zoom tastings, together with partnerships with native meals suppliers. This latter was conceived to greatest assist serve the group, additionally forming a part of a broader firm give attention to sustainability.
30. YAPP BROTHERS WINE MERCHANTS, WILTSHIRE
A sterling service provider that made its title specialising within the Rhône, Loire and Languedoc-Roussillon, however has deftly added to its core French regional portfolio with international locations as numerous as Germany and Australia, South Africa and Argentina. The historic gross sales cut up was round 50:50 between retail and wholesale, with the latter comprising a dizzying variety of Michelin-starred eating places across the UK. Going through as much as the pandemic, and a gross sales combine that shifted to 80:20 retail to wholesale, the main target shifted to D2C, plus promoting to indies, hybrids and brokers, inspiring this service provider to up its vary by 10%.
50 Greatest Indies 31-50
31. JN WINE, NORTHERN IRELAND
An outstanding all-rounder. From its high quality portfolio of each esoteric and extra mainstream wines to diverse buyer providers and in-depth employees coaching, this Northern Eire-based indie additionally continues to develop its high-end businesses throughout the Emerald Isle. With higher emphasis on one-off parcels and gifting throughout 2020, on-line gross sales witnessed an general uptick of 49%, additionally reflecting 3,000 new prospects that flocked to this vinous oasis.
32. NOVEL WINES, BATH
The title of this small however enticingly shaped firm says all of it, with a spread rooted in particular person and sometimes eclectic finds from Central and Japanese Europe, together with rising Mediterranean hotspots and extra in addition to. Based with an purpose to “excite the curious drinker”, this West Nation service provider nonetheless used the disaster to give attention to increasing its vary round £10 to assist attract retail adventurers straying from the supermarkets. All of this was backed by a roster of digital tasting occasions, mixed-case offers and a brand new line-up of novel spirits.
33. VINO WINES, EDINBURGH
With three shops and a really loyal following, this Scottish star met the pandemic head on, flipping virtually its complete vary on-line, accelerating an ongoing shift from wholesale to ecommerce, whereas transferring to the portfolio-protecting protected haven of UK shopping for. All of this merely represents the newest in a sequence of ongoing improvements and evolutions since Vino first opened in 2010, preserving this unstuffy however quality-focused indie forward of the sport.
34. THE WHISKY EXCHANGE, LONDON
Based in 1999, this specialist has since change into the primary on-line retailer of whisky and different spirits, with a easy guiding premise of “by no means resting on its laurels”. Innovation and excellent customer support, coupled with word-of-mouth advice and honest pricing, have pushed sturdy progress lately, with the corporate taking the challenges of lockdowns in its (on-line) stride. Itemizing 9,500 merchandise, this nonetheless is a service provider that makes each single one rely and its spectacular vary remains to be rising.
35. TANNERS WINE MERCHANTS, SHROPSHIRE
One of many UK’s larger family-run indies with six branches to its title, plus a thriving wholesale facet. As such, this nonetheless very impartial Shropshire-rooted service provider continued to do what it does greatest in the course of the pandemic, swinging its premium give attention to to personal purchasers and on-line commerce, whereas preserving its provide to the on-trade “agile”. Climbing 5 locations, Tanners upped its social media presence, whereas additionally exhibiting a neat mix of custom and modernity – all befitting one of many stalwarts of the indie commerce.
36. THE VINEKING, SURREY
With two hybrid websites, a straight wine store and now a devoted wine bar, this Surrey favorite has firmly caught to its founding rules of “nice wines, no nonsense”. Digital tastings and wine-focused excursions, refocused logistics and a shift to that includes wines from stricken on-trade accounts to assist out have all been a part of the combination. It is a service provider that has managed many modern twists and turns all through the pandemic, whereas increasing and fine-tuning its excellent vary.
37. SECRET BOTTLE SHOP, HEREFORDSHIRE
Tucked away in Hereford, the lengthy, bottle-lined entry hall extra than hints on the breadth and variety on provide at this multichannel indie. In the course of the pandemic Secret Bottle Store as soon as once more upped its recreation, working onerous on its high quality entry-level provide to lure buyers away from the supermarkets, whereas fine-tuning its supply providers. It additionally ramped up its extremely profitable Zoom tasting sequence and continued to work carefully with suppliers, together with whisky producers, to ship new launch and limited-edition bottles. An all-round attractive package deal.
38. HENNINGS WINE MERCHANTS, SUSSEX
With greater than 60 years’ expertise beneath its belt, this third-generation household enterprise has by no means stood nonetheless. Hennings has steadily been including to its two-shop power as a standard retailer with an extremely wholesome and nonetheless rising wholesale facet that has for some time now led the enterprise. There’s a incredible breadth to the portfolio right here, with many wines introduced in direct. Add in a lot emphasis on excessive ranges of customer support that carried over into the current progress of on-line, and this service provider stays a regional star.
39. MARTINEZ WINE, YORKSHIRE
With two connecting shops and wine bars, a wholesome wholesale arm and a now vibrant on-line operation, plus 40 years’ expertise of sourcing from hand-picked high quality producers,
the integrity of this service provider clearly shines by. And, because the pandemic compelled a shift to on-line, use of cheeky, energetic and in the end extremely profitable engagement through social media – together with supplier-backed competitions and charity tie-ins – shaped the icing on this tasty vinous cake.
40. THIRSTY, CAMBRIDGE
Thirsty is a stereotype-breaking East Anglian service provider that focuses on small, equally independently minded producers, with natural and pure liquids to the fore, complementing a extremely sustainable focus all through all it does. Throw in comedy and music nights, tastings and bottle swaps, a double-dozen nice beers on faucet and robust assist of native producers, and all of it provides as much as a dynamic mixture of indie vitality.
41. THE GOOD SPIRITS CO, GLASGOW
The sheer spectrum of spirits alone supplied by this service provider is likely to be sufficient to make our 50 Greatest. However add within the enlargement into an amazing wine provide and nice roster of craft beers within the two new outlets, plus a “fiercely impartial” and passion-driven strategy to sourcing, promoting and educating, together with canny adaptation in the course of the pandemic, and it’s no surprise this firm has change into a Glasgow establishment.
42. GWYN LLYN WINES, WALES
This firmly family-owned enterprise in North Wales excels for its vary, its customer support and “placing our coronary heart and soul into what we do”. The pandemic emphasised this ethos, with “no dumbing down”, however moderately a redoubling of local people focus and customer support, together with working with suppliers of different victuals on deliveries. Moreover, Gwyn Llyn labored ever extra carefully with its personal suppliers to make sure that the standard of the provide remained to the fore.
43. ST ANDREWS WINE COMPANY, SCOTLAND
Innovation has at all times underpinned all that this Scottish service provider does, with on-line tastings already a part of the combination pre-pandemic. Nevertheless, when lockdowns hit, the staff ramped it up, immediately switching to a delivery-only mannequin, honing its shopping for and providing pre-ordered gross sales, aiding different companies with their ecommerce websites and creating initiatives corresponding to ‘Winemakers reside’ – a sensible on-line tasting expertise, in partnership with Daniel Lambert Wines.
44. BOTTLE APOSTLE, LONDON
From its unique mini-Aladdin’s collapse East London to its 4 neighbourhood websites at this time, this fabulous service provider continues to push its ethos of interesting to the novice drinker as a lot because the seasoned wine buff. To take action, its dynamic and quality-driven staff actively hunt down extremely characterful finds that supply true worth and curiosity, with employees ardour, rotating tasting samples and far immersion locally all including to the attraction.
45. DUNCAN MURRAY WINES, LEICESTERSHIRE
Climbing 5 locations is that this Leicestershire favorite, providing “wines, beers and spirits with persona” to each retail and wholesale prospects. Character is the key phrase right here, with its eponymous proprietor and staff packing in a lot when it comes to occasions and charitable actions, alongside a bijou wine bar, pop-up initiatives and a rising on-line presence. And this all feeds in to the passionate however unstuffy strategy.
46. VINDINISTA, LONDON
Describing itself as “a small, pleasant neighbourhood wine store in an retro a part of west London”, this indie nonetheless makes waves with its off-the-beaten-track choice, rooted in passionate sourcing and shopping for. Very a lot embedded in the local people, with a very good sustainable ethos in addition, it is a service provider that has additionally reached out very efficiently through social media and on-line to punch above its dimension.
47. TAURUS WINES, SURREY
Housed in a fantastically restored barn on a farm on the Surrey–Sussex border, this service provider gives the entire indie deal. With a powerful ethos of sourcing direct from “basic areas” underpinning the combination of retail and quick ramped-up on-line gross sales, plus a extremely lively wine college and nice sustainable ethos, this indie additionally did a lot all through the pandemic to assist suppliers and commerce prospects alike.
48. VALHALLA’S GOAT, GLASGOW
Describing themselves as “good folks, promoting good issues to good folks, made by good folks” with no want to make “shedloads of money”, this idiosyncratic Glasgow outfit continues to chop to the guts of what makes an amazing impartial. This interprets as tasting, speaking, really listening to the shopper, not taking themselves too significantly – besides with the standard of the usually off-piste wines, beers and spirits they discover – whereas at all times injecting a component of enjoyable.
49. CARRUTHERS & KENT, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
As a specialist wine and bottle store, comprising Enoteca, delicatessen, wine tasting and occasions area, all housing over 500 artisan wines, specialist beers and premium spirits, plus a counter stuffed with extraordinary cheeses, charcuteries, condiments and sweets, this Geordie oasis covers all the most important requirements for all times. Throughout lockdown intervals, the gradual meals/gradual wine ethos behind this firm was efficiently grown by a massively expanded supply service, an enormous drive to spice up wine membership members, a totally revamped web site and lots of different dynamic initiatives in addition to.
50. AKE & HUMPHRIS, YORKSHIRE
Ake & Humphris is an attractive family-owned enterprise in Harrogate that majors in artisanal and less-well trodden finds. The dynamic staff right here, every bringing particular person specialist areas of curiosity, corresponding to South America, Riesling, whisky and craft beer, tailored quick in the course of the pandemic, upping the ante on already sturdy components of vary, service, themed on-line tastings and – satisfyingly – gross sales.
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