Perrin & Partners Invests in the London Wine Fair

Wednesday, 5th November 2025

Vindustrious acquires London Wine Fair

Funding secured for long-term growth vision

London Wine Fair has announced a management buyout via an asset sale to current Event Director Hannah Tovey. London Wine Fair transferred ownership from Hemming Group to Vindustrious – a new company created by Tovey – on Friday, 31st October. Vindustrious will be led by Tovey and retains all five members of the London Wine Fair team, ensuring continuity in the build up to the 2026 event and beyond. This landmark agreement underscores the London Wine Fair team’s dedication to the future of the UK drinks industry. The transition in ownership will ensure both stability and renewed momentum and positions the event to maximise growth opportunities in the run up to its 45th anniversary in 2026. Crucially it will allow the exhibition to enter a new era for the drinks industry.

London Wine Fair has seen significant success under Hemming Group, which launched London Wine Fair in 1981 – especially in the last two years, where growth has returned to pre-pandemic status. Going forward Hemming Group are focusing on their core industries which are exhibitions and publications in the sphere of infrastructure, transport, public sector and healthcare, creating an exciting opportunity for Vindustrious.

London Wine Fair is the longest running drinks industry exhibition in the UK and will celebrate its 45th show in 2026; the transition signals a new era of independence, innovation and ambition for the event. Tovey, who has run London Wine Fair since 2017, has successfully steered the show during the most challenging period of its history, creating the industry’s first fully digital event during the pandemic, and hybrid event thereafter. A seasoned drinks industry professional, she launched Imbibe Magazine, imbibe.com and the spin-off Imbibe Live exhibition and has worked successfully across several other leading drinks publications and events businesses. The award-winning London Wine Fair team will remain in post: Kate Stretton (Director of International Sales); Mara Veith (Director of Sales: UK, France and Asia); Holly Boatright-Wilson (Marketing Manager); and Kasie-Ella Dixon (Marketing and Sales Executive). The team is working toward their 5th live exhibition together in 2026. Mark Gander continues as Sales Manager for Signature Serve, the spirits section of the show, which launched in 2025 and is on track to double in size in 2026.

Tovey secured the total investment sought within a matter of days from a private lead investor, Perrin & Partners, a long term investor in established industry-leading UK businesses, plus a handful of close and longstanding suppliers to the event; this will be used to offset costs generated in the lead up to the show in May 2026, as well as generate ambitious growth for the event. Reservations and prospects for the 2026 show are already 14% ahead YOY. This is in large part due to the huge success and growth of the 2025 exhibition.

Nick Service, Chair of Hemming Group and Bill Butler, Group Managing Director of Hemming Group: "We are very pleased that Wine Fair will continue in Hannah Tovey's capable and experienced hands, backed by the drinks trade. We wish Hannah and her team the greatest of success with the London Wine Fair and we look forward to seeing the event go from strength to strength under her leadership."

Tovey commented: "The management buyout of London Wine Fair marks an important - and exciting - milestone in the history of the event. The change in ownership ensures the event remains at the heart of the UK drinks industry, providing an unrivalled platform for business, debate, education and networking. Following a fantastic 2025 event that delivered a 40% increase in revenue YOY against all market odds, now seven months out from our 45th show, we are well underway to delivering an even more exceptional event. Our Host Nation initiative which was launched in September has secured unprecedented bookings from our domestic wine industry, a priority investment for us and very much part of the strategic development of London Wine Fair going forward."

Fred Amofa, Senior Event Sales Manager, Olympia Events, commented: "We are delighted to see London Wine Fair enter an exciting new chapter while remaining at its long-standing home, Olympia London. The continued management of the experienced organising team ensures stability & expertise, while the new investment and energy brought about by to the new ownership will bring an exciting boost to the current upward trajectory. Here’s to many more vintage years ahead!"

London Wine Fair 2025 was shortlisted for a remarkable four Exhibition News Indy Awards: Trade Show of the Year; Content Programme of the Year; Exhibition Growth of the Year; and Best Event Director for Hannah Tovey and was awarded as Highly Commended for both Best Event Director and Trade Show of the Year.

London Wine Fair 2026 will take place from 18th to 20th May at Olympia.

www.londonwinefair.com | @londonwinefair | #lwf2026 #londonwinefair2026 | www.vindustrious.com

For further information, please contact: Sally Bishop, Relish PR