January products and suppliers update: Business moves for Booker, Bidfresh and Nyetimber

Booker brings in South African wines

 

Kingsland Drinks has brokered a deal between South African wine producer Boland Cellar and Booker to supply three of its wines to the national wholesaler. Three Boland Cellar mid- to premium-tier wines are now listed in Booker branches under the One Formation brand – a Grenache Noir (2023), a blend of Shiraz, Viognier and Grenache (2024) and a blend of Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Grenache Blanc.

 

Exchange Communications upgrades Chancery Rosewood to 4G

 

Exchange Communications has installed 4G-enabled IoT solutions and mobile connectivity at the Chancery Rosewood hotel, London. The technology should provide stronger 4G mobile phone coverage with faster data speeds and wireless connectivity, as well as laying a path to a 5G network. The system is compatible with all major UK providers, including VodafoneThree, O2 and EE, and can be used by guests and hotel management.

 

Bidfresh redoubles sustainability efforts

 

Produce supplier Bidfresh has released its latest ‘Growing Greener’ sustainability report, that includes a refreshed sustainability framework and a new vision: “Caring for people, committed to responsible sourcing and delivering the best in foodservice”. The firm has retained the ASC and MSC Chain of Custody certification for all its seafood trading sites, achieving ‘Bronze’ EcoVadis sustainability accreditation and introduced an ‘Inclusion at Work’ and ‘Workplace Behaviour’ standard.

 

Nyetimber becomes Richmond Rugby Club partner

 

Nyetimber has signed a deal to become Richmond Rugby Club’s official sparkling wine partner. Nyetimber will be served at the Richmond Athletic Ground by both the glass and the bottle and a magnum of Nyetimber will be presented to the Player of the Match after every Men’s and Women’s first team game. The partnership follows the recent announcement of Nyetimber’s long-term collaboration with England Rugby.

 

Monika achieves reaccreditations

Temperature monitoring system Monika has added several certifications to its accreditation portfolio. The firm was awarded a trifecta of ISO standards: ISO 9001:2015 for quality management services, ISO 27017:2015 for proper use of cloud services, and ISO 27001:2022’s latest standard, used to verify safeguarding of sensitive data. It also earned a SafeContractor certification and a ConstructionLine award for health, safety, environmental and ethics standards.

 

Harlech Foodservice breaks sales record

 

Welsh food wholesaler Harlech Foodservice has broken its sales records with a near 20% surge to £30m in six months. Since it was crowned Food Wholesaler of the Year at The Caterer’s Supplier Awards 2025, business in South Wales and the West Midlands has increased by 68% with 117 new customers added this year. In the North West, across Merseyside, Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Lancashire, 390 new accounts have been opened with sales up 46%. In its North Wales heartland, where it has been trading since 1972, it has added 125 new customers since the beginning of April and increased sales by 8%.

 

Merrychef gains EcoVadis accreditation

 

Welbilt high-speed oven brand Merrychef has achieved bronze medal EcoVadis accreditation in its first assessment for the sustainability standard. The EcoVadis appraisal evaluates 21 sustainability criteria across four themes: environment, labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement. 

 

Glasgow coffee roaster relocates

 

Dear Green Coffee Roasters has moved into a new roastery, expanding its capacity fivefold. The company has relocated to a 13,500 sq ft warehouse in Bridgeton, Glasgow, that is five times the size of its previous site near the city’s Barras market. The refurbished 1940s warehouse houses a modern roasting and packaging facility alongside training, cupping and event spaces. The company, which was founded by Lisa Lawson (pictured) in 2011, employs 10 people and has added two further team members since the move. It plans to hire additional senior roles in 2026 to support further expansion.

 

Lyme Bay Winery goes first class

 

Lyme Bay Winery’s single varietal Bacchus 2023 has been listed by the glass in Avanti West Coast’s First Class Lounge at London Euston station. The English still wine is crisp and aromatic, with notes of elderflower, citrus and freshly cut grass. The Devon-based producer was also recently awarded A+, the highest possible grade, in its 2025 BRCGS Food Safety audit.

 

Carpigiani announces 2026 Gelato University courses

 

Ice-cream equipment manufacturer Carpigiani has announced its Gelato University courses for 2026. Gelato Entrepreneur Training features expert-led demonstrations using Carpigiani appliances on the profit opportunities of artisan gelato, soft serve and shakes. The Introduction to Gelato course will be held at Carpigiani UK Development Kitchen in Park Royal, London, Carpigiani’s UK headquarters in Hereford and in Manchester and Glasgow. The Park Royal premises will also host the two-day Basic Course, Carpigiani Discovery Days and the Soft Serve and Shake Consultancy.

 

Humble Grape expands wholesale business

 

Independent wine importer and London wine bar group Humble Grape has taken on a host of new trade accounts. In London the firm will be supplying the Corkman Wine Store in Clerkenwell, Dave’s Wine Bar in Aldgate, Porte Noire in King’s Cross, Frankie’s in Notting Hill, Farine in Wandsworth, Naroon in Fitzrovia and Marylebone, Kudu in Marylebone and Tabac in Exmouth Market. Other accounts across the UK are the Fore restaurant in the Hertford House hotel in Hertford, Cellar Door Wines in St Albans, Cru Manchester and Monty’s Wine Bar in Aberdeen.

 

Standards management system raises $1m to boost growth

 

Hospitality standards management system provider Yipy, co-founded by Adam Tuttle (pictured), has raised $1m (£740,000) in pre-seed funding. The round was led by Great Northern and Ollin Ventures, with participation from hospitality investors. The funding will be used to support Yipy’s next phase of growth, including product development, team expansion and go-to-market initiatives.

 

Double Dutch opens 2026 Female Bartending Scholarship

 

Mixer brand Double Dutch has announced the return of its Female Bartending Scholarship for 2026. The scholarship offers a programme of workshops, mentorship and industry access to 12 successful scholars. This year the programme is expanding its training and will offer selected free educational content to every applicant. To apply, bartenders need to explain what they would like the scholarship to deliver for them in 250 words by 17 February 2026.

 

Radnor Hills becomes Cardiff City FC water partner

Leon Tarr, business development manager, Radnor Hills, and Zoe Jenkins, partnerships manager, Cardiff City FC

 

Radnor Hills has signed a two-year partnership deal with Cardiff City FC to provide its mineral water and a range of its other soft drinks to players, coaching staff and fans at the Cardiff City Stadium and its Vale training base, as well as to its soccer school programme.

 

Showerings triples cider crop

 

Showerings, the Somerset-based cider producer, has harvested more than 2,700 tonnes of Dabinett apples this season, almost triple last year’s 1,000 tonnes. Fermentation is already under way at the company’s Shepton Mallet facility, where the team reports that the cider is showing depth and balance reflective of the high sugar levels in this year’s fruit.

 

Portobello Brewing Co to supply restored Catford House pub

 

Portobello Brewing Co has been selected as the brewery partner for the newly-restored Catford House in south-east London, which reopened to the public in November. The pub and garden, formerly the Catford Constitutional Club, was renovated by the Greenwich Co-operative Development Agency (GCDA). GCDA approached 10 breweries to tender for the restoration project, and Portobello Brewing was selected after being shortlisted and following a taste test of its range of beers.

 

Illy coffee to be served at Fuller’s sites

 

Coffee brand illy has signed a deal to be listed at Fuller’s pubs and hotels. According to Fuller’s, the partnership will help the company achieve targets within its sustainability programme, Life is Too Good to Waste. Oliver Rosevear, Fuller’s sustainability director, said: “Illy’s machines use significantly less energy and there are robust recycling processes for its packaging, supporting us on our target of being net zero operationally by 2030 and reaching a recycling rate of 70% this year.”