With the deadline for the enforcement of the Licensing Act less than two weeks away, confusion still reigns in the trade as applicants continue to receive conflicting advice from the government and local authorities over whether or not they require a licence - and, if they do, what kind they require.
Wholesalers and distance sellers are at the centre of the confusion, and the Wine & Spirit Trade Association claims that it has lost count' of the number of calls it has received asking for advice on the new legislation.
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The Musgrave Group, Ireland's largest grocery distributor,
is close to completing the complete integration of the
beer, wines and spirits operations of its Budgens and Londis
retail outlets.
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Somerfield has unveiled what its wine trading manager Angela Mount has called the biggest range review in 10 years, with more than 200 changes'. It has also claimed that its wine sales are growing at nearly three times the average growth rate among the multiple retailers as a result.
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Tesco has launched a new-look wine club intended to encourage customers to experiment more with wine and move up the quality scale. It's free to join, and the membership currently stands at 465,000, with a target of 500,000 by February 2006. Benefits for the member will include access to wines and offers not available in-store, special discounts, the chance to enter competitions and invitations to Tesco wine events, such as the recent Tesco Wine Fairs in Manchester and London in October this year.
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John Casella is the Pete Waterman of wine. For those familiar with the two, that might sound an unlikely comparison, and certainly the softly spoken family man behind Yellow Tail has next to nothing in common with brash pop impresario Waterman in terms of personality, career, origins or lifestyle. And yet, consider the two men's fates. Waterman, most recently a pundit on TV's Pop Idol and several of its spin-offs, was formerly the Svengali behind the careers of such 1980s pop puppets as Rick Astley, Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan. Through these and other ciphers he has been responsible for more number-one singles than The Beatles and earned himself millions of pounds in royalties; still, despite all of this success, something rankles with him: critical approval has always eluded him. In fact, Waterman's name in rock and pop critical circles and beyond is all but synonymous with naff, manufactured rubbish.
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How did you come to own a hotel and three pubs?
It was a family business, which I joined after university. I had no intention of going into the trade, but my uncle asked me to help out because he had a ropy old list full of spelling mistakes and bad wine. That's all gone now, although we're different from, say, the Hotel du Vin, where a sommelier chooses each list at every place. I've always been scared of the person with grapes on the lapel, and I think customers are as well. Because our lists are full of comments and laid out by style, it's amazing how little we get asked for advice.
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London's Scottish bar and restaurant, Albannach, has launched a whisky club.
Named Aqua Vitae, the club will cost 35 to join (10 for the trade), and will meet monthly to showcase rare vintage casks and special blends and editions. Tickets for events will coast 15 (non-members; 5 for members) with food and drink provided.
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Seckford Wine Agencies has added New Zealand's Escarpment range to its portfolio. Escarpment is made by Larry McKenna, former chief winemaker and general manager at Martinborough vineyard. The range consists of a Pinot Gris (RSP 8.99) and a Pinot Noir (RRP 14.99).
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Vincor International officially rejected Constellation brands C$31-per-share offer for the Canadian drinks company last week, leading to a potential war of words after a stinging rebuke from Constellation chairman Richard Sands.
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Drinks Industry 2005
23-25 November
Crocus Expo
Moscow, Russia
Organisers: Asti Group Exhibition Company
Smolensky Passage, 3 Smolenskaya Square, Moscow, Russia
Tel: +7 (095) 797 6914
info@drinksindustry.ru
www.drinksindustry.ru
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The lifeblood of any industry - especially one where the product is made overseas - is those who sell its products. As a role, sales may not have the glamour of the marketer or the importance of the buyer, but good salespeople are arguably the most coveted (and hardest to retain) employees in any business, in any sector.
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A South African events company is launching a new three-day consumer food and drink show at London's ExCeL centre in June 2006.
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Fine weather greeted the participants at the annual wine-trade regatta, which took place in Seaview on 2 September. Thirteen teams battled it out for the Seaview Bucket, which was eventually won by Justin Waples crewed by Will Gemell and Ian Bailey. The Whittington's Salver for runners-up went to Nigel Clift, Paul Gardiner and Marcus Little.
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HwCg has launched a new specialist independent division, headed up by sales director Richard Berrington.
The new division aims to offer exclusive labels from its existing suppliers, as well as wines from new agencies sourced for the portfolio.
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Super-premium Polish vodka Belvedere has decided to expand from its style-bar base and into the off-trade.
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China is in the middle of a Scotch boom, with sales up 124% in the last six months due to drinkers mixing the whisky with locally produced green tea.
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A series of four 15-minute infomercials' will hit the small screen this week, entitled Fine Wine TV, with four different cases on offer.
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What made you choose The Connaught?
I spent a few months as the head sommelier for Aurora, but I didn't like the feeling of the City. They don't want sommeliers, they just want to order Sancerre or Chablis and have a quick lunch so they can go back to work and do their business again. I prefer Mayfair. People are traditional but more open to trying Riesling, say, or something like Amarone La Marega from Salette.
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Exhibitors and consumers alike gave the thumbs-up to the inaugural Wine Show London - which took place in Islington last weekend - with the calibre of attendee and the organisation of the show particularly praised.
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Winchester-based German wine specialist The Winebarn has added top Mosel-Saar-Ruwer producer St Urbanshof to its agency roster. Owner Nik Weis will be in London this week to launch his association with The Winebarn in a tasting at The Capital Hotel, Basil Street, Knightsbridge (7 November, 3-5pm).
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