The drinks industry is set to experience a groundbreaking new event with the launch of Trade Only Tasting 2025 (TOT), a new annual sampling and sourcing event focused on delivering cost-effective participation and a strict ‘buyer only’ audience.
Taking place at the Business Design Centre, Islington, on 14th and 15th October 2025, TOT is the result of a successful collaboration between Quartz Tasting Events Ltd, and Ross Carter DipWSET, a seasoned expert with over 20 years of experience in the drinks and events industries.
TOT promises to address key industry challenges by delivering a fresh approach to trade event participation.
As Ross Carter explains: “Our mission is to create a business first drinks industry event that understands the needs of the businesses and buyers that operate within it. As a result, we are building a trade event that will streamline sourcing and business transactions within the UK drinks industry. With a unique exhibitor-ready format and exclusive buyer-only policy, TOT will maximize value for exhibitors and attendees alike. Participating exhibitors will be businesses exclusively presenting drinks, rather than service providing companies.”
A Fresh Approach to Trade Events
Forget shell scheme or space only exhibition sites, companies exhibiting at TOT will do business from a purpose-built ‘Tasting Pods’. Designed to be sustainable and budget-friendly without compromising on quality, these solid structures include built-in bottle displays, tasting counters, and spittoon holders.
In addition to cost-effective participation, Organisers expect to deliver a curated and vetted buyer-only audience to ensure high-value interactions for exhibitors, as well as cross-category representation covering wine, spirits, beer and no and low categories to maximise sourcing efficiency for buyers.
Carter explains the ‘buyer only’ ethos further: “We won’t host 10,000 visitors at TOT. There simply aren’t that many dedicated buyers in the industry. We want to redefine how drinks industry professionals connect, sample, and source, and that means placing an absolute priority on attracting those quality buyers often missing at other trade shows. All visitors will be vetted, and the audience volume will be limited. We are committed to quality over quantity.”
Visitors will pay a fee of £10 to confirm attendance, with all proceeds being donated to the Drinks Trust, the drinks industry charity.
With its innovative approach to exhibitor participation, cost-effectiveness, and buyer-focused model, TOT is poised to become the UK’s must-attend drinks Industry Sampling and Sourcing Event.
There are limited opportunities to take part or attend in 2025. Potential buyers and exhibitors can now register their interest in joining the first Trade Only tasting event in London at www.tradeonlytasting.com
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