Laurent-Perrier: King’s champagne supplier blames private school VAT for sliding sales Retail Labour’s introduction of VAT on private school fees contributed to profit at Laurent-Perrier, which supplies King Charles III with champagne, being significantly cut during its latest financial year. The division of the French giant has said its sales were impacted not only by the Labour government extending VAT to school fees but also higher interest [...]
Gingardium Leviosa: Harry Potter star Emma Watson’s gin brand takes off Retail The luxury gin brand co-founded by Harry Potter star Emma Watson has surged in value after raising an extra £5m. Renais Gin was launched in May 2023 by the actor and her brother Alex and is now sold in 11 countries. The siblings were inspired to set up the company by childhood trips to their family’s vineyard, [...]
Moët & Chandon: Sales slump by £25m at champagne owner Retail UK sales at the owner of champagne label Moët & Chandon slumped by £25m during its latest financial year amid “difficult trading conditions”, it has been revealed. Moët Hennessy UK has reported a turnover of £267.1m for 2024, down from the £292.7m it achieved in 2023. The business said its fall in sales was “In [...]
Reeves’ taxes ‘incredibly damaging’ to historic family business September 16, 2025 The tax hikes introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her Autumn Budget are “a real setback” and will be “incredibly damaging”, one of the UK’s biggest family-owned breweries has warned. Robinsons Brewery, which has been in business in Stockport for more than 180 years, has issued a warning that 2025 will be “a much more [...]
Strongbow and Jägermeister social media ads banned for promoting irresponsible drinking September 10, 2025 Social media posts by Strongbow and Jägermeister have been banned by the UK’s advertising watchdog for suggesting that alcohol takes priority in life and social settings. Two Jägermeister ads on social media and one Instagram skit promoting a can of strawberry Strongbow – which is owned by Heineken – have been banned by the Advertising [...]
AB InBev: Corona brewer’s losses near £200m despite major improvement September 1, 2025 The UK arm of AB InBev, the brewing giant behind the likes of Budweiser, Stella Artois and Corona, has now lost almost £200m since it last made a pre-tax profit after continuing in the red in 2024, it has been revealed. The London-headquartered division has reported a pre-tax loss of £20.9m for its latest financial [...]
One pub to close every day in 2025, new data reveals July 10, 2025 Small pubs are being forced to close in the face of unsustainable costs pressures, according to new data. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has estimated that 378 pubs will close this year across England, Wales and Scotland, amounting to more than 5,600 job losses. The industry body pointed to the heavy pressure of [...]
Profit at The Macallan whisky owner slashed as sales slide July 2, 2025 Profit at Edrington, the owner of whisky label The Macallan, slumped by more than a quarter during its latest financial year as its sales slid, new figures have revealed. The Glasgow-headquartered group, whose brands also include Highland Park and Glenrothes, has posted a pre-tax profit of £274.4m for the year to 31 March, 2025. The latest [...]
Glengoyne whisky maker suffers worst decline in decades as demand falls June 24, 2025 Profit at the group behind spirts such as Glengoyne whisky and Edinburgh Gin has been slashed in half as it suffered the largest decline “in decades”. Edinburgh-headquartered Ian McLeod Distillers has posted a pre-tax profit of £15.6m for the year to 30 September, 2024. The total comes after the business achieved a pre-tax profit of £33.8m [...]
Thwaites ‘extremely nervous’ Rachel Reeves will raise taxes in Autumn Budget June 17, 2025 Beer brewer Thwaites is “extremely nervous” about the possibility of Chancellor Rachel Reeves raising taxes further in her Autumn Budget. The Lancashire-headquartered group, which also owns pubs and hotels, added its industry is “under tremendous pressure” from Reeves’ first Autumn Budget due to the increases in the National Minimum Wage and the employer’s National Insurance [...]