Berry Bros. & Rudd History - Key Dates
- 1698 The business was established at Number Three, St. James's Street, London.
- 1760 During George III's reign, Berry Bros. & Rudd first supplied the British Royal Family and has continued to do so to the present day.
- 1765 Weighing customers on the giant coffee scales began at Number Three, St. James eg. William Pitt the Younger, Beau Brummel, Lord Byron and Aga Khan.
- 1903 A Royal Warrant was granted as Wine Merchants to King Edward VII.
- 1923 Cutty Sark Scots Whisky was created at Number Three, St. James's Street the first light coloured whisky of its kind.
- 1933 Charles Walter Berry was the first wine merchant to do an extensive tour of wine regions (published in the book 'In Search of Wine').
- 1967 First independent wine merchant to have temperature-controlled cellars outside London (Basingstoke, Hampshire).
- 1971, 1981 Queen's Award for Export received for Cutty Sark Scots Whisky.
- 1994 First Duty Free Wine Shop opened at Heathrow Airport, Terminal
3.
Launch of ground-breaking online wine shop www.bbr.com - Berrys were the first wine merchant to do so.
- 1995 Opening of Berrys' Fine Wine & Food Shop, Basingstoke.
- 1997 First UK acquisition: Fields Wholesale Wine Merchants to widen
agencies.Second Duty Free Wine Shop opened at Heathrow Airport Terminal
4.
Run up to 300th anniversary celebrations marked with award of second Royal Warrant granted by H.R.H. The Prince of Wales.
- 1998 Opening of Berry Bros. & Rudd Hong Kong Wine Club and Hong Kong website. Berry Bros. & Rudd opened its first overseas shop in the Old Corporation Weights and Measures building at Number Four, Harry Street, Dublin.
- 1999 Corporate hospitality facility opened following the renovation of the historic vaulted cellars that lie beneath the shop at Number Three, St. James's Street.
- 2000 Berrys' Wine School is launched at Number Three, St. James's Street. Launch of Japanese version of www.bbr.com. Berrys is voted the International Wine Challenge Fine and Rare Wine Merchant 2000/2001.
- 2001 Development of specialist rooms Number Three, St. James's Street:
Champagne, 'Stills' Room (Spirits) and Wine Shop allowing self-service for the
first time in Berrys' history.
Berrys is awarded the International Wine Challenge: Bordeaux Merchant of the Year and Website of the Year accolades.
- 2002/2003 Opening of The Pickering Cellar for Berrys' Wine School and
tastings.
Development of an additional warehouse to store more than 3.5 million bottles at Hampshire base.
Launch of the Berrys' Own Selection range of Single Malt Whiskies. Awarded the Internet Website of the Year, International Wine Challenge 2002.
Voted the 'Best Wine Shop in the World' by Forbes.com and Which? Wine Guide Regional Merchant of the Year - London. Berry Bros. & Rudd currently holds Royal Warrants for H.M. The Queen and H.R.H The Prince of Wales.
- 2004 Berry Bros. & Rudd won International Wine Challenge Overall Wine Merchant of the Year; Regional Merchant (London); Retailer of the Year (creativity) and Website of the Year in 2004.
- 2005 Simon Berry made Chairman of Berry Bros. & Rudd. Berrys was awarded International Wine Challenge Burgundy Wine Merchant of the Year and Website of the Year 2005.
- 2006 Opening of Pickering Place for private luncheons and dinners.
Opening of Berrys' Factory Outlet in Basingstoke. Berry Bros. & Rudd won International Wine Challenge Overall Wine Merchant of the Year; Independent Wine Merchant of the Year; Website of the Year; Specialist Merchant of the Year - Burgundy; Specialist Merchant of the Year - Bordeaux; Regional Merchant of the Year - London.
Berrys was named Independent Wine Merchant of the Year at the Decanter World Wine Awards.
Whisky Magazine named Berrys Whisky Retailer of the Year in the Icons of Whisky Awards.
- 2007 Awarded Online Wine Merchant of the Year and Regional Merchant of the
Year - London - at the International Wine Challenge.
Berrys' Fine Wine Blog launched - www.bbr.com/blog.
- 2008 Simon Berry appointed Clerk of the Royal Cellars. Simon Berry appointed Chairman of The Benevolent. Berrys' launches The Fine Wine School in Hong Kong
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