Top spirits buyers in the UK
What does it take to be a leading spirits buyer in today’s market? Melita Kiely and James Lawrence connected with some of the industry’s brightest talents to learn more.
In partnership with London Wine Fair and Signature Serve, The Spirits Business has been seeking out some of the UK’s most talented spirits buyers.
From supermarkets and specialist retailers to leading on-trade operators, there are many skilled buyers balancing commercial performance with innovation, trend developments and, importantly, consumer expectations.
We spoke to 16 leading spirits buyers to learn more about how they curate their spirits ranges, identify emerging categories, and respond to changing patterns in consumption.
Knowing how to stay ahead of the curve becomes increasingly imperative when economic times are tough. Spirits saw the biggest revenue drop of all alcohol categories in the UK for 2025-26, falling by £94 million (US$126.9m) year on year.
According to the latest alcohol excise duty receipts from the UK government’s His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs authority, spirits revenue was down by 2.3% to £4.04 billion for the 2025/26 year. This is compared with £4.15bn for the 2024/25 year, marking a decline of £94m.
While trade bodies do their best to lobby government policymakers to reverse alcohol duty hikes to support the industry, spirits buyers should be credited for keeping their offerings enticing and worthy of consumers’ hard-earned money.
Below we share a snapshot of what makes these buyers so skilled in their roles. The full interviews with each buyer are available to read for free in the inaugural supplement.
Nick Larsson-Bell
Senior spirits and beer buyer, Harvey Nichols
A consummate and highly experienced professional, Nick Larsson-Bell has spent the past 20 years working in the drinks industry. After spending his formative years working in cocktail bars and restaurants in London, Larsson-Bell joined the retail side of the business in 2011.
Formerly the head of retail for Amathus Drinks, he accepted a position with Harvey Nichols as its senior buyer, where he now works as a buyer in beers, wines, and spirits, in addition to managing the private-client side of the business. A valued judge for the IWSC, ISC, The Global Spirits Masters Competitions, Great Taste, and LSC, in his spare time Larsson-Bell can often be found sipping Scandinavian whiskies, Belgian beer, and Austrian wine.
Dawn Davies MW
Commercial buying director, The Whisky Exchange and The Whisky Exchange Trade
Former sommelier and Master of Wine turned spirits (and wine) buyer, Dawn Davies has been at The Whisky Exchange for more than 10 years. In that time, she has led a small buying team to build the exceptional portfolio of whiskies, wines, spirits, and more that makes The Whisky Exchange stand out as a trusted retailer around the world.
She also leads the trade team, selling to some of the UK’s best bars, restaurants and hotels, the three bricks-and-mortar shops in London, and the events series hosted by The Whisky Exchange, including the annual sell-out Whisky Show at Old Billingsgate.
She was awarded Woman of the Year at The Drinks Business Awards 2025.
Rob Whitehead
Spirits buyer, Berry Bros & Rudd
Rob Whitehead began work for Berry Bros & Rudd (BBR) in 2006, cutting his teeth at the Heathrow store before relocating to the St James’s shop and cellars, and then becoming the merchant’s youngest ever buyer in the autumn of 2010.
Buying spirits for the oldest and greatest spirits and wine merchant in the world is “my dream job”, he says, waxing lyrical about the “endless examination of both the classic and the contemporary, the large and small, the renowned and the as-yet unknown”.
He adds: “What can be more thrilling than standing shoulder to shoulder with the greatest distilleries of the world?” Thoughtful, commercially astute, and committed to quality and breadth, Whitehead delivers ranges that generate profit and excitement – no mean feat today.
Guy Hodcroft
Spirits buyer, Bordeaux Index
Guy Hodcroft has built a career spanning every corner of the wine and spirits sector, with experience in bars, restaurants, independent retailers, department stores, and international markets.
He began his buying career at Selfridges before becoming head spirits buyer at the multi-award-winning online retailer Master of Malt.
He is now a buyer at Bordeaux Index, specialising in luxury fine wine and spirits.
In recognition of his expertise and impact, he was named the drinks business’ Spirit Buyer of the Year in 2018.
Neil McDonald
Buyer, beer, wine and spirits, Selfridges
Neil McDonald began his career in London in 2008 on the Majestic Wine graduate management programme, where he developed a deep appreciation for wine and spirits.
In 2014, he joined Caprice Holdings and the Birley Group, where he was exposed to some truly exceptional wines and spirits at iconic Mayfair establishments. This experience further strengthened his commercial expertise and broadened his understanding of premium, hospitality-led wine and spirits.
For the past five years, he has been the lead buyer, beer, wine, and spirits at Selfridges, overseeing significant growth and innovation. He has led numerous exciting changes, high-profile activations, and industry-first launches to market, continuing to push boundaries in the luxury retail space.
Pietro Collina
Bar director, Thesleff Group
Pietro Collina is the bar director for Thesleff Group, bringing extensive international hospitality experience to the role. He began working in Michelin-starred kitchens when he was at secondary school in London before graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in 2009.
He spent 13 years with Eleven Madison Park and NoMad Hotels under restaurateurs Will Guidara and Daniel Humm, including leading the opening of NoMad London in 2021.
In 2022, he travelled across Latin America with partner Veronica Di Pietrantonio, an experience that inspired the opening of Viajante87 in 2023. The bar has earned multiple accolades, including UK Top 50 Bars and The World’s 50 Best Bars recognition.
Jessica Lock
Buyer, Harrods
Jessica Lock joined Harrods in 2025, and is responsible for key categories, including blended and world whisky, Cognac, and white spirits.
Before joining Harrods, she built extensive buying experience in the UK grocery sector, holding buying roles at Lidl and Sainsbury’s.
Most recently, she served as spirits buyer at Sainsbury’s, where she worked with supplier partners to deliver strategic growth and category outperformance.
Tom Brady
Senior buyer, Majestic Wine
Tom Brady spent 18 years in the on-trade in many roles, from the world’s top 10 cocktail bars and Rosette restaurants to Parisian dive bars, backpacker hostels, and neighbourhood pubs.
In 2020, he moved into retail and became the spirits buyer for the Oxford Wine Company. Between 2020 and 2025, Brady completed the WSET Spirits Level 3, WSET Diploma, and became a certified Sherry educator.
He founded and ran boutique drinks festivals including the Oxford Whisky Show, Oxford Rum Show, and Oxford Sparkling Wine Show. In April 2025, Brady joined Majestic’s award-winning buying department, and looks after all of the non-wine products.
John Vine
Spirits buyer, Waitrose
John Vine has been with the John Lewis Partnership, owner of British supermarket chain Waitrose, for 33 years. During this time, Vine has spent 26 years in buying, and 12 years working in the spirits category.
His contribution to the spirits world, specifically Scotch whisky, was recognised when he was appointed a Keeper of the Quaich. He is also a member of the Gin Guild, and a member of the Worshipful Company of Distillers.
With his extensive career and expertise, he is frequently invited to serve as an industry judge and guest speaker about spirits and the wider drinks trade.
Lisa Halstead
Spirits buyer, Master of Malt 
Lisa Halstead has worked in the drinks Industry for nearly 15 years, with the majority of that time spent in route to market, moving into the world of e-commerce around four-and-a-half years ago. She says the spirits industry is the most exciting industry to be in. She loves learning about new products and new trends and bringing those trends to life.
“This industry is so friendly, and the people are what make it extra special – everyone from the brands, distributors, bars, retailers and many more play such a huge part in helping people create amazing experiences and memories – what’s not to love about it?”
In her personal time, she is a mum to three young adults, which takes up most of her time. Here, we learn more about her extensive experience and insights.
Jason Vaswani
Head buyer, old and rare, The Whisky Exchange
Old and rare whisky expert and enthusiast Jason Vaswani has worked as a buyer for The Whisky Exchange for more than seven years. He has led the Old & Rare buying team since October 2023.
Through both his professional work in the whisky industry and his YouTube channel, JasonWhiskyWise, he has established himself as a trusted authority in old and rare whisky, particularly in education, authentication, and acquisition.
Liam Davy
Beverage director, Hawksmoor 
Liam Davy’s role as beverage director is equal parts creative, commercial and operational. He makes sure that first and foremost the drinks at Hawskmoor are as good as they can possibly be for guests, then working backwards to make sure they make commercial and operational sense.
Having worked for highly commercial businesses before, as well as running his own, Davy has learned first hand that making sure you understand what your ‘main thing’ is, and doing it brilliantly, is the most important part of this role. For him, that’s cocktails.
Adam Donnelly
Head of procurement, Urban Pubs and Bars
Adam Donnelly’s hospitality experience is extensive. From managing a high-volume riverside food pub to being purchasing manager (non-food) for Laurel Pub Company (now Stonegate), he also spent eight years at Shake Shack UK as head of supply chain and new-product development, giving him huge insight into the world of franchise businesses.
As head of procurement at Urban Pubs and Bars, Donnelly leads the group’s drinks strategy from start to finish, sourcing spirits, building supplier partnerships, and enhancing both the commercial success of the company, and supporting the team’s creativity.
Stephen Worrall
Managing director, 3 Greek Street, Soho
Stephen Worrall is managing director of the historic Soho whisky shop formerly known as Milroy’s.
With a career in whisky that began in the late 1990s, he developed his expertise through retail, cask selection, and close relationships in the trade.
Worrall has worked alongside respected figures in the industry, and played a key role in redeveloping Milroy’s retail and digital presence.
He now leads the evolution of the business, overseeing its transformation into a hybrid destination that combines retail, bar, and tasting experiences.
Giota Polizoudi
Giota PolizoudiSenior buyer for spirits, Marks & Spencer
Giota Polizoudi is senior spirits buyer at Marks & Spencer, with 15 years’ experience in homeware and food.
Her career has spanned project management and buying roles in groceries and wine.
She is excited about her move into spirits, and is focused on deepening her category expertise, building strong supplier partnerships and growing the range with distinctive, high-quality products. WSET-qualified in wine, she will soon be starting WSET studies in spirits.
David Mellor
Head of spirits, Hedonism Wines
David Mellor began his career in the drinks trade in 2009, joining Majestic Wines as a trainee manager at the company’s fine wine centre in St John’s Wood, London.
In 2012, he joined Hedonism Wines, initially focusing on stock control and logistics. Mellor’s responsibilities later expanded to include e-commerce, inventory management, and sales analysis. In 2024, he moved into the buying team as head of spirits.
Read the interviews with each spirits buyer online, for free.
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