Draft:Laithwaites Wine

• Comment: I think notability is just about there. However, this is written from the company's point of view, and is therefore inherently promotional; it should be little more than a summary of what independent and reliable sources have said about the business. Peacock and weasel expressions like "international reach", "global workforce", "gained popularity", etc. must be removed.
  Sources 2, 3, 6 and 12 just point to website home pages, which don't directly verify anything in this draft. DoubleGrazing (talk) 18:12, 9 January 2025 (UTC)

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Laithwaites is a British wine retailer that offers a selection of wines through mail order, online sales and retail stores.

Founded in 1969.., the company has expanded from a small operation to a significant player in the UK wine market, with international reach including the United States and Australia.

Laithwaites is a part of Direct Wines Ltd, a global company selling more than 40 million bottles of wine a year. The company employs a global workforce and has over 750,000 customers worldwide. It also has partnerships with organisations such as The Sunday Times Wine Club.

Laithwaites is recognised for sourcing wines from small, family-run vineyards. Laithwaites emphasises wine knowledge among its employees, providing training in wine tasting and production to enhance product understanding and customer service. Laithwaites has also implemented sustainability plans across many aspects of the business including packaging, training and biodiversity. It has set goals to reduce its carbon footprint, including halving its direct and indirect emissions by 2030.

History

Laithwaites was founded in 1969 by Tony Laithwaite, who began importing wines from France to the UK. The business started under a railway arch in Windsor, which functioned as the initial warehouse and distribution centre. Initially named Bordeaux Direct, the company gained popularity for its direct sourcing approach.

Barbara Laithwaite joined husband Tony in 1971, later becoming managing director of the business. The launch of the Sunday Times Wine Club in 1973 expanded the company’s customer base through curated wine selections

Expansion and international growth

In the 1980s, Laithwaites broadened its wine sourcing to include other European countries and regions like Australia and the United States. This expansion later included the acquisition of Lionstone International in the United States, facilitating entry into the US market. Laithwaites has established wine clubs with various publications, such as the BBC Good Food Wine Club

Laithwaites remains a family-run business, with involvement from Tony and Barbara Laithwaite and their sons, Will, Tom, and Henry Laithwaite.

Barbara Laithwaite established the Wyfold Vineyard in 2003 in South Oxfordshire and released its first commercial vintage in 2006.

In 2011, Laithwaites partnered with the Royal Estate to plant a vineyard at Windsor Great Park. The vineyard is managed by Henry Laithwaite.