What Love Drinks does

Love Drinks is an independent UK-based import, distribution, and marketing company specialising in super premium craft spirits, liqueurs, and craft beers. Founded on 22 August 2007 by Kirsty Loveday, the company is headquartered in London with a registered office in Horsham and operates with 11–50 employees. Its portfolio comprises 14+ craft-distilled or family-owned brands including Hernö Gin (Sweden), Puerto De Indias (Spain), Matusalem Rum, Recuerdo and Zignum Mezcal, The Bitter Truth bitters (Germany), Virtuous Vodka (Sweden), White Heron (UK), Abelha Cachaça (Brazil), Karisimbi Rum, Neurita Tequila (Mexico), the Ikigai Collection (Japan), Brunette coffee liqueur (France), and Conker Spirit (UK).

The company runs a sales-led go-to-market, acting as exclusive UK distributor for its portfolio brands and supplying them directly to Premium Retail customers such as Waitrose, Tesco, M&S, Ocado, and Fortnum & Mason, as well as On Trade venues including bars, restaurants, and hotels. Revenue is generated through wholesale margins on distributed products under a transaction-fee model; specific pricing is not publicly disclosed. The company is privately held, has no parent, and reports no external funding rounds — it has been organically grown since 2007.

Beyond distribution, Love Drinks positions itself around a 'drinking better but less' philosophy supported by the Love Well wellness program in partnership with MiBODY Fitness and Healthy Hospo, and it occasionally supports international expansion of its brand partners, such as Conker Spirit's launch in Canada via LCBO. The portfolio has accumulated a strong roster of third-party award validations (e.g., Hernö — World's Best Gin 2017; Recuerdo Mezcal — IWSC Agave Producer of the Year 2022; Neurita Tequila — World's Best Flavoured Tequila 2023).

Name

Love Drinks

Legal name

Love Drinks Ltd

Website

https://lovedrinks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Love Drinks is an independent UK importer and distributor of super premium craft spirits, liqueurs, and craft beers, serving Premium Retail chains (Waitrose, Tesco, M&S, Ocado, Fortnum & Mason) and On Trade venues via an exclusive portfolio of 14+ family-owned and craft brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Distribution and Import: Love Drinks generates revenue through importing and distributing premium craft spirits, liqueurs, and beers to retailers and On Trade establishments. They act as the exclusive UK distributor for their portfolio brands, earning margins on product sales through wholesale relationships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Love Drinks is a UK-based import, distribution, and marketing company for super-premium craft spirits, liqueurs, and craft beers. It acts as the exclusive UK distributor for a portfolio of 14+ craft-distilled and family-owned brands from around the world, supplying them to premium retail chains and on-trade hospitality venues. The company also provides brand-building, education, and marketing support to its brand partners.

Product overview

Love Drinks is a premium import, distribution and marketing company representing quality spirits, liqueurs, craft beers, and bitters. Established in 2007, the company distributes a portfolio of 14+ craft-distilled and family-owned brands from around the world. The portfolio includes: Hernö Gin (Swedish premium gin), Puerto De Indias (world's first strawberry gin from Spain), Matusalem Rum (Cuban-origin rum), Zignum and Recuerdo (Mexican mezcals), The Bitter Truth (German cocktail bitters and liqueurs), Virtuous Vodka (Swedish organic vodka), White Heron Drinks (British liqueurs), Abelha Cachaça (Brazilian organic cachaça), Karisimbi Rum (conservation-themed rum), Neurita Tequila (Mexican flavoured tequila), Ikigai Collection (Japanese spirits), Brunette (French coffee liqueur), and Conker Spirit (Dorset gin). The company focuses on brands with rich provenance, heritage, and compelling stories, serving premium retail and on-trade sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Love Well: A wellness and lifestyle program run by Love Drinks focusing on pillars of well-being including Sleep, Sweat, Connect, Wellness, and Eat. The company partners with Healthy Hospo and MiBODY Fitness to support this initiative.

Products and services

• Abelha Cachaça

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Healthy HospocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWellness partnership supporting the Live/Love Well program to champion industry people through health and wellbeing initiatives.
• MiBODY FitnesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFitness partnership through Love Well program allowing education on ways to Live Better, supporting healthy happy people in the industry.
• Craft Gin ClubminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConker Spirit partnership with Craft Gin Club for product distribution and brand exposure to their membership base.
• That Boutique-y Gin CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConker Spirit partnership with That Boutique-y Gin Company for distribution through their boutique gin offerings.
• Speakeasy Ice CreamsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConker Spirit collaboration with Speakeasy Ice Creams for innovative product partnerships.
• Royal National Lifeboat InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConker Spirit partnership with RNLI supporting charitable causes.
• Fortnum & MasonflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive liqueurs created in partnership with Fortnum & Mason, including a limited-edition Fortnum & Mason Cold Brew Tea Liqueur. Premium retail placement.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cask Liquid Marketing: Independent UK spirits marketing and distribution agency for premium imported brands — small, founder-led, similar B2B sales-led model targeting UK retail and on-trade with similar headcount scale.
• Speciality Brands: UK specialist drinks importer and distributor representing a portfolio of premium and family-owned spirits brands to independent retail and on-trade — overlapping customer base and brand-owner go-to-market.
• Hi-Spirits: Long-standing UK independent importer and distributor of premium craft spirits, with a comparable super-premium positioning, B2B retail and on-trade focus, and a similarly founder-led structure.
• Bibendum Wine: London-based premium wine and drinks distributor serving UK on-trade and retail; offers a comparable mix of premium imported alcohol with a producer-portfolio model, though heavier on wine than Love Drinks' spirits-led mix.
• Maverick Drinks: UK premium craft drinks distributor founded by a drinks specialist, focused on craft and artisanal spirits — closest behavioural twin among UK competitors in terms of target customers and brand storytelling approach.
• Amathus Drinks: UK premium drinks importer and distributor with combined wholesale and retail arms, focusing on craft spirits and wines — directly comparable B2B distribution plus on-trade presence in the same UK market.

Broad incumbents

• Diageo: Global premium spirits multinational with a substantial UK distribution infrastructure and craft/specialty arm — represents the broader incumbent alternative for any premium spirits brand considering exclusive UK distribution.
• Pernod Ricard: Global premium spirits group whose Jameson and Chivas distribution footprint competes for on-trade and retail listings in the same UK accounts — sets the competitive ceiling for B2B relationships Love Drinks depends on.
• Halewood Wines & Spirits: Large UK-headquartered independent drinks group that owns and distributes a portfolio of premium and craft spirits — much broader in scale and own-brand exposure, but operates in the same UK import-and-distribute lane for premium spirits.

Emerging players

• Compass Box Whisky: Craft Scotch whisky producer whose super-premium, narrative-led positioning parallels Love Drinks' portfolio brands; not a distributor itself but competes for the same shelf-space, on-trade placement, and consumer mind-share.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/love_drinks_ltd
• Xx.com/Love_Drinks
• Facebookfacebook.com/Lovedrinksltd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/a

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Love Drinks