Campari Group, home to spirits brands in the UK such as Aperol, Wray & Nephew, Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum, and the eponymous Campari, has unveiled its state-of-the-art new regional headquarters, in the heart of the capital.
The UK is the largest spirits market in Europe and the fifth largest in the world, making it a crucial strategic territory for Campari Group – the sixth major player in the spirits industry worldwide. Its new regional HQ signals a new era for the Italian giant’s operations in this country and in the Northern Central & Eastern Europe Region – as well as internationally. Building on its rapid growth trajectory in the UK, this new opening also underlines Campari Group’s ambitions for its future, creating new jobs and lasting partnerships as part of a long-term commitment to the UK market.
Named “The House of Campari Group, UK”, the new London HQ is situated in Great Portland Street – a stone’s throw from Oxford Street – and will be the first time the business has owned a UK office space, becoming a key permanent in-market home for the business. As well as being a significant investment in a strategic market, taking ownership of its London footprint has allowed the company to blend its heritage with cutting edge innovations in the flagship drinks and hospitality space – all with customary Italian flair, as can be seen in the show-stopping design of the new building.
“We have been operating in the UK for just seven years – and it has quickly become one of our most important markets, not just in Europe, but globally," said Cesare Vandini, Managing Director BU NCEE. "As such, The House of Campari Group, UK is not only our new Northern Central & Eastern Europe home here, but also an important strategic development for the business, demonstrating our commitment to our customers, partners, and colleagues – ultimately underlining our belief in the UK market and our brands’ performance within it.”
The company’s Italian heritage is proudly channelled throughout the space, with care taken to add a local London twist as well as nods to the culture of each of Campari Group’s famed brands. From a stunning 7ft long mosaic centrepiece and unique Depero artworks on the ground level, to an Aperitivo-inspired roof terrace with views of the London skyline, the new office is as aesthetically pleasing as it is practical.
The new HQ also introduces a brand-new concept to the UK market: Campari Academy. Already a global movement with training facilities as far afield as Sao Paolo and Sydney, London’s Campari Academy represents the first time it has been brought under one roof in a UK venue – offering an additional layer of hospitality and drinks excellence for both customers and employees. Campari Academy seeks to connect, educate, and inspire bartenders with innovative masterclasses and industry-leading training programmes.
“In the short time we have been operating in the UK, we have experienced very strong growth in sales and people," said Brad Madigan, Managing Director at Campari Group UK. "As we move into The House of Campari Group, UK, I look forward to building an even greater business from these strong foundations.”
The House of Campari Group, UK was officially opened on 4 November.
Birmingham entrepreneur and leading wholesale figure Dr Jason Wouhra OBE has been officially installed as Aston University’s new Chancellor.
Dr Wouhra, Aston University’s youngest Chancellor and the first of Asian heritage, was presented with the chancellor’s chain at the beginning of the University’s first winter graduation which was held at Symphony Hall in Birmingham city centre. Spread across three ceremonies, approximately 4,500 graduates and guests attended the event.
The decision to hold a ceremony in the city centre coincides with the University marking 130 years since the foundation of Birmingham Municipal Technical School, the educational establishment which in 1966 evolved into Aston University when it gained its Royal Charter.
Dr Wouhra is Aston’s fifth Chancellor, and as ceremonial head of the University his high-profile role includes presiding over events and conferring degrees upon hundreds of graduating students each year.
A trailblazing business leader and entrepreneur, Dr Wouhra was previously awarded an honorary doctorate by Aston for his contribution to entrepreneurship and business development in 2014.
A former director of East End Foods, Dr Wouhra is the founder and chief executive of Lioncroft Wholesale - a leading UK independent business - as well as the current chairman of Unitas, the UK’s largest independent wholesale buying group.
Outside of the food and drink industry, Dr Wouhra was awarded an OBE by Her Majesty the Queen in 2017 for services to business and international trade, and in 2013 became the youngest and first chair of Asian heritage of the Institute of Directors in the West Midlands - a position which saw him take on a business advisory role for the then-Prime Minister David Cameron.
He was appointed to Aston University’s governing body, the University Council, in June 2020, and last year launched the Lioncroft Foundation to support charitable initiatives across the globe.
His installation ceremony as part of winter graduation was presided over by Aston University’s Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, Professor Aleks Subic, who said:
“Graduation is a significant milestone for our students, and I’m delighted that this year’s winter ceremonies also marked the installation of our new Chancellor, Dr Wouhra.
"He brings an impressive track record as an entrepreneur and business leader, with a profound belief in education’s power to transform lives—qualities that will both inspire and nurture our next generation of leaders.
"With the appointment of our first Chancellor of Asian heritage at Aston University, we are demonstrating our commitment to creating an inclusive, entrepreneurial and transformational university deeply engaged with businesses and community in Birmingham and the broader West Midlands region.”
Dr Wouhra added,“It is a huge honour and a privilege to be officially installed as Chancellor of Aston University, and it is of course deeply humbling to be the youngest ever Chancellor and first of Asian - and in particular Sikh - heritage in Europe.
“But today’s ceremony was rightly about our graduates, who I know with the lessons of our university under their belt can go on to achieve extraordinary things.
"The city of Birmingham - with Aston University at its core - has a history of incredible entrepreneurship, and I hope those who graduated today take with them the essence of that entrepreneurial spirit.
"It’s the ethos that I have built my career on, and I look forward to working with the university team to further instill that mindset into our students to continue to help set them apart and leave a lasting legacy for the UK and beyond for generations to come."
Dr Wouhra replaces Sir John Sunderland who served in office for the past 13 years.
In addition to announcing six brand new members within the first week of January, the new buying group The Wholesale Group last week hosted two briefing events for senior suppliers where it shared details of its plans and future vision.
The senior supplier briefing event, held at Soho Hotel, London last week, saw more than 50 channel directors in attendance plus 150 representatives from leading FMCG suppliers, across all product categories.
Joint managing directors Jess Douglas and Tom Gittins introduced the new group, outlining the rationale for its creation and the group’s USP:
“We all know the wholesale landscape is changing and we recognise the need to change with it to ensure we provide the best support and value for both independent wholesalers and our supplier partners,” said Douglas.
“As a result, The Wholesale Group has been created to provide the home for independent wholesalers, of all sizes, with extensive retail and foodservice expertise and support. This also provides our supplier partners with a highly-effective, cost-efficient route to market for independent caterers and retailers.
“And of course, our major USP is that there is no charge to join the group as a member, and all members receive a share of the profits.”
Gittins outlined the group’s strategic pillars, including central distribution and its central payment solution, described as a ‘win win’ for both wholesalers and suppliers.
“While The Wholesale Group can support every retail and foodservice business in every postcode, we provide one Group invoice and one Group payment, which will save considerable time and money for suppliers and members alike. It’s the ultimate win win.”
He also outlined some of The Wholesale Group’s innovative tech initiatives, including how both members and suppliers can utilise data and insight.
TWC’s Tanya Pepin shared updates on Insight, while Cerve’s David Walker and Nestle Professional’s Martin Robinson discussed how the Accelerate platform benefitted suppliers.
Illan Hepworth from ShopAI provided an introduction to The Wholesale Group’s brand new AI tool, which will launch later this year. This will provide members, suppliers and The Wholesale Group team with the opportunity to utilise AI in order to simplify how data and insight is accessed and understood, resulting in real-time accuracy of data and significant time savings.
Attendees also heard from co-chairs Coral Rose and Martin Williams, as well as an overview from Lumina Intelligence MD Jill Livesey.
“It was a fantastic day and we’re absolutely delighted with how our plans were received,” said Gittins. “Feedback from suppliers has been overwhelmingly positive and there is a real buzz around our plans for the future.
"As well as existing suppliers, we also saw a number of brands we haven’t previously engaged with which has prompted countless new conversations. It’s a really exciting time.”
Promoting safer alternatives to cigarettes could save 19 million years of life by 2030 and reduce smoking-related costs to taxpayers by up to £12.6 billion annually, a new report from the Adam Smith Institute (ASI) has revealed.
The think tank argues that the UK government's current approach to achieving a Smoke Free 2030 - defined as reducing smoking rates to 5 per cent or lower - is both illiberal and unworkable and will significantly set back progress against smoking related harm. The ASI warns that policies such as a generational tobacco ban, a new tax on vapes, and restrictions on heated tobacco products and flavours will hinder harm reduction efforts.
According to the report, outright bans in other countries have failed, and a generational tobacco ban in the UK could lead to unintended consequences, including fuelling black markets, as seen in Australia and South Africa. The proposed vape tax and the ban on disposable vapes are expected to deter smokers from switching to safer alternatives, with research suggesting that 29 per cent of disposable e-cigarette users might return to smoking if the ban is implemented.
“The evidence is overwhelming - tobacco harm reduction (THR) products reduce smoking-rates and save lives. Alongside scrapping the generational ban, the government must urgently reconsider its punitive restrictions on harm reduction products,” Maxwell Marlow, director of research at the ASI and report co-author, said.
The ASI advocates for policies that embrace market-driven harm reduction strategies, drawing inspiration from Sweden's success in becoming smoke-free through the widespread availability of reduced-risk products like snus. The think tank's key recommendations include:
Scrapping the Generational Smoking ban or at the very least carve out Type 1 heated tobacco products;
Reversing the ban on disposable e-cigarettes to prevent current users reverting to smoking;
Scrapping the vape tax, as this is likely to deter the uptake of refillable e-cigarettes as a long-term quitting aid;
Expanding access to THR products via pharmacies, hospitals and hospitality venue;
Legalising Swedish snus to provide consumers with a greater choice of reduced risk products;
Removing punitive restrictions on the marketing of reduced risk products and, instead, ensuring that advertising standards are properly enforced so as to not attract under-aged users;
Undertaking a wider public health campaign to counter disinformation surrounding reduced risk products, encouraging more smokers to make the switch.
If Smoke Free 2030 was achieved, we could save 19 million years of life in the UK. The figure reflects the cumulative increase in life expectancy for all smokers, adding up to 19 million years across the entire population. Research by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) showed that smoking costs the UK taxpayer £21.8 billion annually. Based on ASH’s methodology, implementing the strategy outlined in the report could reduce this cost by between £9.2 billion and £12.6 billion, ASI added.
Several MPs have weighed in on the ASI's findings. Rupert Lowe, Reform UK MP for Great Yarmouth, warned against government overreach, stating, “This is a step towards government control over personal freedoms. It may start with smoking but it certainly will not stop there.”
Conservative MP Greg Smith echoed concerns about the feasibility of the generational ban, arguing that “the illiberalism of the generational smoking ban aside, there is no evidence to suggest it would even work.”
Labour MP Mary Glindon, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Responsible Vaping, however, supported the harm reduction strategy, saying, “The government is right to strengthen its commitment to a Smoke-Free 2030. By adopting a harm reduction strategy, we could save 19 million years of life while reducing the burden smoking-related harms place on the NHS.”
E-cigarettes are the most commonly used smoking cessation aid in England, associated with the highest success rates for quitting, a new study has found.
The study conducted by researchers from University College London as part of the long-running Smoking Toolkit Study analysed data from 25,094 participants aged 16 and older who attempted to quit smoking between 2006 and 2024.
The findings, published in JAMA Network Open, highlight that e-cigarettes have emerged as the most commonly used cessation aid, with 40.2 per cent of quit attempts in 2023-2024 involving their use. More importantly, their use was associated with a significantly higher likelihood of successful quitting, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.95 after adjusting for various factors.
“This is consistent with evidence from randomized clinical trials and previous observational studies and provides further evidence that, in addition to being popular, e-cigarettes offer one of the most effective methods of quitting smoking,” the researchers said.
Despite their popularity and effectiveness, the study also revealed that a considerable proportion of quit attempts (40.8%) were made without any aid, which was associated with lower success rates.
While e-cigarettes topped the list, other aids that demonstrated positive associations with quit success were used far less frequently. These included:
Prescription nicotine replacement therapy (NRT): Used by 4.5 per cent of quitters (OR: 1.33)
Websites: Used by 4.6 per cent (OR: 1.43)
Varenicline: Used by 1.1 per cent (OR: 1.80)
Heated tobacco products (HTPs): Used by 0.7 per cent (OR: 2.37)
Interestingly, while prescription NRT showed a positive impact on quit success, over-the-counter NRT did not exhibit the same benefits (OR: 1.03). This discrepancy may indicate that guidance and structured support play a crucial role in the effective use of NRT products, the study noted.
Scottish convenience chain Greens Retail has raised an incredible £5,000 in support of Fife Gingerbread’s Heat & Eat appeal through Nisa’s Making a Difference Locally (MADL) charity.
The funds contributed significantly to the charity exceeding its £20,000 fundraising target, enabling it to provide critical support to families across Fife facing hardship.
The Heat & Eat Appeal aims to ensure children and young people live in safe, warm, and healthy homes during the challenging winter months, especially as the rising cost of living places added pressure on many households.
Greens Retail embraced this vital cause with fundraising initiatives in six of its Fife stores, where purchases of Co-op branded products contributed directly to the MADL fund. The campaign also received a boost from MADL’s Winter Warmer Award, which added an additional £1,000 to the total.
To further rally community support, Greens Retail produced a heartwarming Christmas advert featuring Fife Gingerbread’s mascot, Gingey, alongside local children.
The video, which highlighted the appeal, was viewed over 15,000 times on social media, garnering widespread engagement and support from the community.
Linsey Proctor, PR and Fundraising Representative at Fife Gingerbread, said: “We are blown away by the generosity of Greens Retail and their customers.
"This donation will directly fund emergency warmth and meals for vulnerable families. Greens Retail has shown the true power of businesses making a difference in their communities.”
Caroline Cunningham, Area Manager for Greens Retail, shared: “Our stores are at the heart of their communities, and this campaign demonstrated how we can come together to support a cause that truly matters. The impact of this donation is incredibly rewarding, and I’m proud of our team and customers for their generosity.”
Alexandra Copeland, Group Operations Director at Glenshire Group, added: “This achievement reflects the shared commitment of Greens Retail and Nisa’s MADL charity to community engagement. The passion and dedication behind this campaign exemplify how we can create meaningful change together.”