Tesco is closing its online wine club in order to concentrate on its mainstream business with reports that Chief Executive Dave Lewis is looking to reduce the company‘s overall product range.
The Tesco Wine Community website launched in December 2011 and will close on 28th August, The Guardian has reported.
High-profile names to feature on the site, which describes itself as a “place for people to come together to discuss and share their thoughts, opinions and experiences about wine,” included writer Oz Clarke and TV chef John Torode.
As well as providing an online forum and special offers, the site organised events and tastings including annual wine fairs – the last of which will be held in September and October.
A Spokesman from Tesco said: “We have taken the decision to close our Wine Community website. We know the site has proved really informative for some customers, but we will now focus on providing information on our award-winning wine range in store and on our Tesco.com website.”
Members expressed their disappointment on the site‘s discussion forum, with some users urging rivals to seize the opportunity to start up something similar.
Charlotte Brown
