Now the Brits invade Australia

With the markets a-quiver with rumours that Southcorp is to be gobbled up by the British-based multinational Allied Domecq (so soon after BRL Hardy fell to the American Constellation), I bring you news of a rather more smallscale British invasion of Australia – though one that shows a great deal more imagination.

Tony Laithwaite fell in love with wine while researchng geography at university in the 1960s and, with his wife Barbara, the real business brains behind the organisation, has quietly built up his company Direct Wines (now aka Laithwaites) to completely dominate the wine mail order business in Britain....