Laithwaites sets up in Hong Kong

Direct Wines, owner of the Sunday Times Wine Club and Laithwaites, is to launch a new mail order wine club with Hong Kong's leading English-language newspaper, The South China Morning Post.

Direct Wines launched its operation in Hong Kong with an offer to HSBC bank customers earlier this year which received double the number of orders expected and ran out of stock. The move follows the abolition of the 40% tax on wine last year and according to CEO Simon McMurtrie, if Hong Kong proves to be successful, they have plans for China.