Wine merchant Berry Brothers & Rudd sets up shop in Hong Kong

The growing number of wine lovers in Asia, particularly in China, has led a London-based wine merchant with 324 years of history serving customers in Europe to open its first outlet in Hong Kong.

Berry Brothers & Rudd's customers include the British Royal family and the company was responsible for the wine served to guests at the wedding dinner of Prince William and his bride, Kate Middleton.

The St James's Street company, Britain's oldest wines and spirits merchant, said it planned to expand in the region despite sales of high-end wine dropping by 30 per cent from its peak in 2010.

Until it opened its own base in Hong Kong this month, it operated in the city through a local franchisee. It has now opened in Hong Kong under its own name to target mainland and Hong Kong clients.

The company has an office in Wan Chai where clients can taste the wines and it is in the process of identifying a suitable location to open a retail shop.

Simon Berry, chairman of the family-owned business, said the company's shop in London on St James's Street had attracted a growing number of Chinese and Hong Kong customers in recent years, indicating strong demand from the region.