Red Johnson sets up The British Drinks Company

Red Johnson, son of Hugh Johnson, has founded The British Bottle Company, the first export business to specialise in premium British drinks.

“It's an unprecedented period for the British drinks industry, with premium brands being in global demand as never before,” he says. “I've spent the last ten months working with a fantastic team, including my father Hugh Johnson, beer guru Pete Brown and spirits expert Ian Wisniewski, putting together a first class portfolio of British drinks brands.”

The company represents a portfolio of suppliers in three categories; craft beer and cider, English sparkling wine and artisanal spirits.

Red is supported by an advisory board that includes leading names from the drinks industry including his father, wine writer Hugh Johnson, wine industry veteran and English wine specialist Mike Paul, author and spirits expert Ian Wisniewski and beer expert and author of Three Sheets to the Wind and the annual Cask Ale Report, Pete Brown.

Together, they have assembled a portfolio of 12 of Britain’s most exciting and respected drinks brands; including Digby Fine English; Camel Valley; Otter Brewery, and Warner Edwards Gin.

As Red explains: “This is an amazing period for the British drinks industry, in all three categories. English Sparkling Wine is coming of age, the craft-brewing sector is buzzing and British premium spirits are in demand worldwide. There is so much talent and quality here and we’re committed to promoting and developing our portfolio and the industry as a whole worldwide.”

Based in Hampshire, The British Bottle Company provides a full service export facility for its suppliers including market analysis, distributor matching, marketing, logistics and administration.

Red says: “Even large producers can struggle to find the resources and expertise to manage export effectively. We essentially act as the in-house export team by managing the entire process, from strategy and sales to the nuts and bolts of export. It’s all we do and we are out there in the market representing our suppliers all the time”

Camel Valley winemaker Sam Lindo says: “We are absolutely delighted to be working with The British Bottle Company. This unique approach is exactly what our fledgling industry needs to help us pool resources to enter new export markets. Red has a great team with a lot of

24 October 2014 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor