Berry Bros. & Rudd

Berry Bros. & Rudd (BBR) is a family-run British wine and spirits merchant founded in London in 1698. Since then, the company has grown from a small coffee shop into an international business with six offices worldwide.

Berry Bros. & Rudd
Private
GenreWine merchant
Founded1698
FounderThe Widow Bourne (the current Chairman is Lizzy Rudd)
Headquarters
London
,
England
ProductsWine, spirits
Serviceswines, spirits, corporate hospitality, private dining, wine storage, wholesale
Websitewww.bbr.com

As well as the finest wines, such as en primeur from places like Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhône and Italy, the company also sells wines and spirits under its own-label range, Berry Bros. & Rudd's Own Selection.

Other services it offers include wine investment, wine storage, wine tastings, events and educational courses. Berry Bros. & Rudd currently employs six Masters of Wine, more than any other company in the world.[1]

History
No.3 St James's Street

Berry Bros. & Rudd is Britain's oldest wine and spirits merchant, and one of the ten oldest family-run businesses in the UK. It was founded by the Widow Bourne in 1698 at 3 St. James's Street, London, which today is a Grade II* listed building still used as the company's headquarters.[2] No.3, as it's known, contained Berry Bros. & Rudd's main retail premises until mid-2017, when these moved around the corner to a purpose-built shop at 63 Pall Mall. The company has a discounted store next to its main warehouse in Basingstoke, Hampshire and additional offices in Battersea, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore.

The company started out selling coffee, and then diversified into cocoa, tea, snuff, spices, and other exotic goods, quickly becoming one of London's most fashionable grocers. Its West End location and close proximity to St James's Palace also contributed to its growing popularity. In 1903 they formulated a ginger liqueur to revivify Edward VII from cold car journeys, still purveyed as The King's Ginger.[3]

During the years, it has counted many famous customers among its clientele including: Lord Byron, William Pitt the Younger, the Aga Khan and Beau Brummell.[4]

In 2005, Simon Berry, who joined the company in 1977, became Berry Bros. & Rudd's Chairman. He was succeeded in the role in 2017 by Executive Chairman, Lizzy Rudd.

Window display at 4 St James's Street

Royal Warrants

Berry Bros. & Rudd has been the official wine supplier to the British Royal Family since the reign of King George III and received its first Royal Warrant of Appointment in 1903 from King Edward VII. Queen Elizabeth II granted the company her royal warrant in 1952, while Charles, Prince of Wales granted it his in 1998.

Basingstoke Warehouse

In 1967, the company moved its bottling operation and warehouse to purpose-built facilities in Basingstoke, Hampshire. In spring 2014, it relaunched its Warehouse Shop on the site of the former bottling hall, the shop now sells bin-end and reduced price wines and spirits alongside a fine wine collection.

Cutty Sark Whisky

In 1923 Berry Bros. & Rudd launched Cutty Sark Scotch whisky, whose yellow label became famous the world over. In 2010 the brand was sold to The Edrington Group; under the deal, Berry Bros. & Rudd acquired The Glenrothes single malt brand, which was then sold back to Edrington in 2017.

Berry Bros. & Rudd's Broking Exchange (BBX)

Berry Bros. & Rudd was the first wine merchant to open an online shop, launching bbr.com in 1995. Today it also has an online wine trading platform called BBX (Berry Bros. & Rudd's Broking Exchange). It enables customers to sell and trade their own wines if they are stored in the company's bonded warehouses. Today BBX is the world's most extensive online fine wine trading platform.[5]

The Future of Wine report

In May 2008, a team from Berry Bros. & Rudd, Jasper Morris, MW, Alun Griffiths MW, Simon Field MW, and David Berry Green, drew up a document of speculations into the state of the wine industry in the coming 50 years, The Future of Wine.[6][7][8][9] Among the predictions for 2058 were suggestions that China may become one of the world's biggest producers, that grapes will be grown hydroponically in floating offshore vineyards, and honey bees could be trained to detect wine faults.[9]

References
  1. Anderson, Nathaniel. "Berry Bros. & Rudd".
  2. Historic England. "3 St James's Street SW1 (1264868)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  3. "King's Ginger". thekingsginger.com. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  4. By Royal Appointment. ITV3. 2012. Event occurs at 8:00pm. Archived from the original on 2012-06-29. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
  5. Trade Review, Harpers Wine & Spirit. "Berry Bros wine trading website nets £1m". Harper Wine & spirit trade review. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
  6. The Future of Wine report Archived May 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  7. Berry Bros. & Rudd. "Berrys' Future of Wine Report". Archived from the original on 2008-05-19.
  8. Styles, Oliver, Decanter.com (May 9, 2008). "China to become leading wine producer?".
  9. Meikle, James, The Guardian (May 9, 2008). "Chateau China, a taste of wines to come with climate change". London.

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