Jewell to leave Tesco for Wine Australia

Laura Jewell MW is to leave the Tesco wine department to become Wine Australia’s Regional Director for the UK, Ireland, and Europe.

As reported by Off Licence News, the move comes while Tesco’s head of beers, wines and spirits, Dan Jago, remains suspended from the company during the ongoing investigation into a £250m overestimation of its profits.

Jewell will be filling the role that has been left vacant following the death of Yvonne May this September, who had steered Wine Australia UK since 2011.

“I’ve dedicated my career to wine and have worked across many different parts of the value chain. I’ve always found Australian wine to be of consistently high quality and the diversity of Australia’s 65 wine regions is an incredibly exciting story to tell,” Jewell said.

“I can’t wait to get started and work with Australian wine brands and exporters on a calendar of innovative events and initiatives for local trade and consumers that builds on the solid reputation that Australian wine already has in the UK and European markets,” she added.

Tesco’s senior wine product development manager for the last four years, Jewell has been responsible for sourcing and blending for the company.

Looking after over 3,000 stores across the UK and an empire that stretches into 12 countries, including much of Eastern Europe, China and South Korea, Jewell has been the driving force behind Tesco’s increasingly important own label and exclusive label business.

During her time at the retailer, she has focused on increasing the Finest* range and introducing less well-known grape varieties into Tesco’s own-label selection.

Jewell has also been keen to push Tesco’s presence on social media, hosting interactive consumer tastings online.

In 2012 she became the first female chair of the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, while last year, the drinks business named her Woman of the Year. Prior to Tesco Jewell worked for Sainsbury’s, HwCg and Waverley Vintners.

Earlier this month, Catherine Friend joined the Tesco wine team as an assistant buyer, while Nick Hood was made quality manager for beers, wines and spirits.