
Since forming in 1978, privately-owned Halewood Wines & Spirits has quietly carved a niche in the UK’s beer, wine, spirits and RTD categories, through the Lambrini, Red Square vodka and Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer brands. However, performance has suffered in the years following founder John Halewood’s death. In the first of a two-part interview, group CEO Stewart Hainsworth talks to just-drinks’ deputy editor, Lucy Britner, about his vision for the group’s future growth as well as Russian oligarchs and the company’s recent stake purchase in The Pogues Irish whiskey.