Singapore’s fine wine scene has ‘come a long way’, says BBR
Charlie Rudd, a fourth-generation family member of Berry Bros. & Rudd (BBR), has said the UK-based wine merchant is planning double-digit growth, driven by growing interest from Asian consumers. The post Singapore’s fine wine scene has ‘come a long way’, says BBR appeared first on The Drinks Business.
Charlie Rudd, a fourth-generation family member of Berry Bros. & Rudd (BBR), has said the UK-based wine merchant is planning double-digit growth, driven by growing interest from Asian consumers.
BBR is planning for year-on-year double digit-growth for 2024, Charlie Rudd, the fourth-generation family member who now leads the business in Asia, told Epicure.
Growth is being driven by increased interest and passion among Asian consumers wanting to drink and collect fine wine and spirits, he said.
The fine wine merchant established its first Asian office in Hong Kong 25 years ago, and the region has since become a key market.
BBR set up its Singapore branch in 2012. Rudd said the fine wine market in the city-state had grown rapidly in the years since. “The market in Singapore has come a long way in a short space of time and is now operating as a regional hub across Southeast Asia,” he said.
Singapore is small, home to just 5.9 million people across only 719km². As such, it's important to service the market well. Rudd described there being "two degrees of separation across customers" — a fact which means word spreads fast among collectors.
“The network is extremely close and collectors, more often than not, know each other to some extent,” Rudd said. “With such a close network of collectors, colleagues and friends, trust and proof of concept, exceptional service from soil to sip become extremely important with word travelling fast.”
The business has come up against challenges in recent months, entering into redundancy consultation with 30 staff worldwide. Job losses have been brought about due to tough market conditions and increases to National Insurance contributions in the UK, the company has said.
However, in Asia BBR sees potential for a bright spot. Bangkok, for instance, offers new opportunities with the recent reduction of the wine tax in early 2024, Rudd told Epicure.
BBR also announced the launch of a new auction arm in October 2024. Both the UK and Asia will be key markets for the merchant’s new auctions arm, Geordie Willis, director of new ventures for Berry Bros. & Rudd told db at the time, adding that the auctions’ online format will give them “global appeal”.
BBR is planning for year-on-year double digit-growth for 2024, Charlie Rudd, the fourth-generation family member who now leads the business in Asia, told Epicure.
Growth is being driven by increased interest and passion among Asian consumers wanting to drink and collect fine wine and spirits, he said.
The fine wine merchant established its first Asian office in Hong Kong 25 years ago, and the region has since become a key market.
BBR set up its Singapore branch in 2012. Rudd said the fine wine market in the city-state had grown rapidly in the years since. “The market in Singapore has come a long way in a short space of time and is now operating as a regional hub across Southeast Asia,” he said.
Singapore is small, home to just 5.9 million people across only 719km². As such, it's important to service the market well. Rudd described there being "two degrees of separation across customers" — a fact which means word spreads fast among collectors.
“The network is extremely close and collectors, more often than not, know each other to some extent,” Rudd said. “With such a close network of collectors, colleagues and friends, trust and proof of concept, exceptional service from soil to sip become extremely important with word travelling fast.”
The business has come up against challenges in recent months, entering into redundancy consultation with 30 staff worldwide. Job losses have been brought about due to tough market conditions and increases to National Insurance contributions in the UK, the company has said.
However, in Asia BBR sees potential for a bright spot. Bangkok, for instance, offers new opportunities with the recent reduction of the wine tax in early 2024, Rudd told Epicure.
BBR also announced the launch of a new auction arm in October 2024. Both the UK and Asia will be key markets for the merchant’s new auctions arm, Geordie Willis, director of new ventures for Berry Bros. & Rudd told db at the time, adding that the auctions’ online format will give them “global appeal”. 
