Looking Back on Successes
As 2024 comes to a close, we sit down with Mark Roberts, the sales director of Lanchester Wines.
He shares his perspective on the company’s achievements and how they are navigating a landscape filled with challenges.
Boosting Christmas Sales
Christmas is a make-or-break time for many businesses, so planning ahead is crucial.
We focus on building our stock early and consistently engage with our clients to ensure accurate forecasts.
This proactive approach helps us identify future trends.
Each year, we design exclusive seasonal promotions featuring a diverse range of festive wines, Ports, and spirits, all crafted to enhance holiday experiences and improve profit margins for our customers.
Every year brings its own set of victories, but Lanchester Group’s sustainable growth continues to be a source of pride.
This sustainability is evident in various ways: securing significant contracts, the successful operation of Greencroft Two, and our environmental initiatives.
A highlight has been introducing the UK’s first super lightweight 300g wine bottle, which garnered us the IWSC Green Wine Initiative Award for the second year in a row.
Challenges and Trends in the Industry
The economic landscape has been tricky, marked by soaring interest rates, climbing living expenses, and inflated stock financing costs.
These factors have made business operations increasingly challenging.
Moreover, the forthcoming alcohol duty regulations, set to kick in on February 25, are particularly troubling for the industry and consumers alike, especially given the current financial strain.
These regulations add complexity to an already difficult environment influenced by past governmental policies.
We need to differentiate between the Low and No alcohol movements and the trend towards wines with lower ABV, aimed primarily at circumventing taxes.
While the Low and No category is commendable and has produced some excellent products, simply lowering a wine’s ABV for tax reasons shouldn’t confuse us.
I hope by the end of 2024 we’ll see a greater appreciation for product quality and value alongside considerations of ABV and taxes.
Looking Forward to 2025
We’re excited about growing Lanchester Wines in various domestic markets.
While many companies set growth goals, our expansion trajectory feels particularly swift.
We’re actively recruiting to bolster our sales team.
Additionally, we’re planning to focus more on exports in 2025, with innovative initiatives on the horizon.
After the disruptions caused by COVID-19 and Brexit, we’re eager to regain that momentum and push forward.
- What wine pairs best with turkey? Mark suggests Leese-Fitch Pinot Noir—an excellent balance for a festive meal, stemming from a new partnership formed at ProWein this year.
- What wine do you consider the ‘turkey’ of wines? He chuckles, hesitating to pick just one, but reminisces about a nostalgic bag-in-box wine from the early ’90s.
- Which spirit do you think is overrated? He feels Tequila Rose, although popular, reminds him too much of children’s medicine.
- Which spirit do you believe is underrated? Mark highlights Tequila and Mezcal, especially well-crafted sipping varieties, as deserving of more recognition in the UK market.
- Chardonnay or Riesling? Riesling is his go-to, with a special mention of the new Permission to Pivot LSD Riesling as a personal favorite.
- Port or sherry? He leans towards Port but admits sherry has been making its way into his life more often.
- R(h)um or Tequila? Tequila stands out as his top choice.
- If you could embody a drink, which one would you be and why? He identifies with Guinness, citing its versatility and suitability for any occasion.
Source: Harpers
