Laithwaites opens flagship store

Laithwaites has opened a flagship store at Vinopolis in London with a focus on higher end wines in the £10 to £20 price range. The wine club, part of the Direct Wines group, already has 10 shops in the south of England but its core business is selling wine by mail order and the internet. The Vinopolis shop was previously occupied by Majestic but closed at the end of 2009.

Laithwaites has also appointed former Waitrose head of wine Justin Howard-Sneyd MW as global wine director - another signal to the trade that they are serious about moving their offering up the ladder.