The Grocer checks out the highlights from this weekend’s festival held in County Hall, London
This weekend marked the second annual Waitrose Drinks Festival in London. The Grocer brings you the highlights – from ready-made cocktails to the launch of a new wine-tasting service.
Premium beer and snacks
Customers flocked to sample speciality beers, cheeses, charcuterie and crisps in the festival’s market room

Unsusual Sensations
Walkers Sensations was testing out demand for its two new varieties: mango & chilli chutney poppadoms and wasabi & ginger crisps. According to the brands reps, the wasabi variety was proving a surprise hit

Charcuterie
Italian brand Principe offered a taste of its Prosciutto Cotto and Beechwood Smoked hams

Lindt and wine
The killer combo of premium chocolate and complementary wine drew in plenty of visitors

Ready-made cocktails
Grocer New Product winner Funkin was showing off how easy it was to make mojitos and martinis with its mixer brand

Rum-a-plenty
Alongside the numerous gin stands, rum brands such as Koko Kanu and Appleton Estate also made their mark in the festival’s cocktail room as Waitrose tips the spirit to be the next big thing

Champagne and fizz
Established champagne brands such as Veuve Cliquot went head to head with English fizz challengers such as Smith & Evans in the bubbly room

Virtual vineyard
Veuve Cliquot got customers working off their free champagne with a virtual reality bike tour of its vineyards

Wine tasting
Waitrose wine experts ran a free tasting class, in which it promoted the trial launch of its Wine Tasting at Home service to customers in the London area

Festive treats
It wasn’t all about the alcohol – the coffee lounge had plenty of Lavazza on hand alongside festive treats such as these Waitrose puff pastry mince pies






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