It’s another key year for Beyond Wines in terms of your growth. Can you talk us through some of the big milestones?
Launching Léon Launois Champagne exclusively with Tesco has been a major milestone. Equally rewarding is the continued growth of Liquid Diamond, our own Prosecco brand, which we have nurtured from the beginning, and which continues to perform well in Sainsbury’s.
Faustino’s performance in Sainsbury’s also continues to build, with 17% growth over the latest 26 weeks, with our longstanding relationship with the team at Familia Martínez Zabala being important to that progress.
We are excited to share we have re-launched our company website and refreshed our brand identity to better reflect the breadth of the business. Jodie Newman, who we have worked with for many years, has helped bring that vision to life through the new branding and website.
The Tesco Champagne partnership is clearly a major step for you. Can you talk us through what you are doing and what the brief was?
Beyond Wines' new breakthrough Champagne listing in Tesco
We worked with Champagne producer Charles Mignon to launch Léon Launois exclusively in Tesco in August, and it is now available in nearly 700 stores. The combination of outstanding quality, attractive presentation and an accessible price, giving shoppers a compelling choice for celebrations and gifting.
Holly Skinner, Tesco national account manager at Beyond Wines, adds: “Seeing Léon Launois on Tesco’s shelves has been a real highlight. The Champagne is absolutely delicious and great value at only £20. We have seen a huge positive response from wine writers at Tesco’s press tasting, which has been particularly rewarding.”
As the business grows, what changes are you making to how it is run?
We are proud of how the business has progressed over the past six years. The drinks industry remains challenging, with further headwinds ahead, so having the right people around us is essential.
We’re a small team with extensive experience, and our people have been central to that progress.
We plan to look at how we expand in the right areas over the coming year to support the expanding business while maintaining the personal, hands-on approach our partners value.
You also have a new slogan and logo: “We Go Beyond”. What are you looking to convey?
Beyond Wines has a new brand identity for the business, with a new logo, website and mission statement "We go Beyond"
“We Go Beyond” captures how we work: bringing together commercial expertise, category insight, brand development and marketing to help our partners succeed.
We take a holistic approach, starting with the consumer, and using shopper insights to identify the opportunity. From there, we shape the proposition, source the right wines and partners, and bring it to life through brand creation and ongoing marketing support.
Our refreshed identity reflects that breadth of expertise and the business we have become.
You are also offering marketing and business consultancy services. What does that entail?
We help producers and brands understand the UK market, develop their positioning and present a compelling proposition to customers.
We have expertise to support those looking to crack the key but tricky-to-enter UK market, from category insight to commercial presentations and social media content and activation. Everything is grounded in commercial experience and an understanding across the on and off-trade.
Any examples of the kind of work you have done?
Liquid Diamond is a great example of what we can build. Created in 2021, our own Prosecco brand continues to grow within Sainsbury’s, bringing together our expertise in brand creation, commercial development, content and retailer support.
Beyond Wines is now offering branding and marketing services to drinks companies - and has been able to help brands such as XXL and Delância’s zero-sugar, 10% ABV Portuguese botanical sparkling wines find listings and distribution in the UK
XXL’s 16% no nonsense, fruit-forward wines, and Delância’s zero-sugar, 10% ABV Portuguese botanical sparkling wines bring something very different to our portfolio. We work closely with both brands on developing their strategy, be it researching potential flavours and formats, supporting their social media, PR and consumer content, Amazon listing assets and retailer presentations.
It shows how we can take what begins as an initial product pitch and place it where it will reach the hands (and mouths) of shoppers.
There is a lot of talk in the trade about pressure, challenges and increased costs. What is your experience in 2026?
The pressure is coming from several directions: further duty increases, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) charges, preparation for the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), transport costs and fuel surcharges. Together, these put ever increasing pressure on margins across the supply chain.
At the same time, the cost of living means shoppers are thinking carefully about every purchase. We need to manage those costs closely while delivering quality and value, while giving retailers confidence that our products will earn their space. There are always opportunities, but the commercial detail must stack up.
What are the fundamental things you have to get right as a wine supplier or agency versus five years ago?
Quality, reliable supply and strong relationships remain essential, but running a resilient business also means staying close to the detail, particularly cash flow and margins. Some of the biggest shifts over the past five years have come from industry pressures and regulatory requirements.
Understanding these, planning ahead, and managing their commercial impact are now fundamental to running a successful drinks business.
You must be brave in your decisions, but commercially disciplined. Every opportunity needs to make sense for the business and the people behind it. We’re ambitious, but we’re also comfortable saying no when something isn’t the right fit. Growth has to be sustainable.
How has the vision and strategy changed since you started, and where do you now sit versus your peers?
The fact Beyond Wines has now forged strategic partnerships with major brands such as Faustino shows how far it has come in a short period of time
We have evolved into a business combining brand ownership and distribution with commercial and marketing services. We are a small team with extensive expertise across regulations, logistics, marketing, sales and commercial management. That broad knowledge allows us to understand the whole picture and provide practical, joined-up support for our partners.
In 2020 we were young and ambitious, but also perhaps naïve in our outlook on how to run a business. That is not a criticism, in fact we look back and admire the courage we had to pursue our vision, but it’s also certain to say that experience has brought a wisdom and know-how that is only possible through surviving many ups and downs.
What are the next steps over the next 12 to 18 months?
Consolidation of the growth of our business is important, taking calculated risks to continue that trajectory without getting ahead of ourselves. Balancing opportunity with surety for our team, partners and customers is paramount.
Private label and new product development are important opportunities. We want to work closely with our producer partners and customers to identify emerging consumer trends and translate them into relevant wines, flavours and formats across our portfolio.
Underpinning this is a focus on deepening partnerships and growing sustainably.
Stuart Bond, commercial director, adds: “We’re proud of the progress and for the trusted relationships we’ve built with our producers and customers. Behind every launch and listing is a dedicated team that cares about getting it right. ‘We Go Beyond’ captures that commitment, to our partners, to each other and to making things happen.”
Anything else to say?
It was fantastic to be back out in the trade for the recent Drinks Trust Gala. It’s been a while since we saw many of our friends across the wine industry, and we look forward to increasing our involvement, in the name of a great cause, in 2027.
* You can find out more about Beyond Wines here. Beyond Wines is a commercial partner to The Buyer.
