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Liberty doubles down on ‘giving good reasons to buy’

Published:  25 January, 2024

Liberty Wines always comes out batting strong at its busy annual portfolio tasting at The Oval, and this year was no exception, with some 25 countries represented, along with fortified, spirits, alcohol free and olive oils.

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Nick Gillett: Predicting the big Christmas spirits trends

Published:  16 October, 2023

When it comes to this point of the year, customers start turning their thoughts towards Christmas. I know we say this every year, but Christmas 2023 really is going to be one of the most important festive seasons of the last ten years. While a great season won’t solve the various problems put upon the industry by government (duty hikes, rail strikes, and soaring energy costs, to name but a few) it’ll certainly go some way to protecting against the inevitable quiet months in early 2024.

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Jerry Lockspeiser: Growth is central to business strategy. Is it time to change?

Published:  27 September, 2023

Many years ago I was asked to act as a strategic consultant to a Chilean wine business. They wanted help with reformulating their strategy, first to achieve break even, then to reach sustainable profitability. The business was 100% targeted at export markets, with the UK a key priority.

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New Zealand exports hit new high

Published:  31 October, 2022

The value of New Zealand wine in international markets has reached a record-breaking high, New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW) has revealed, with exports for the past 12 months reaching NZ$2.03 billion.

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Tequila’s star continues to rise as supermarkets sales double

Published:  25 July, 2022

Tequila is stealing a march on other spirits categories, with an impressive 94% growth spurt in two years underpinning the rise of the Mexican spirit in the UK.

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Global alcohol market forecast to exceed 2019 volumes within two years

Published:  08 June, 2022

A new report issued by the IWSR is full of encouraging news for the international beverage industry. According to the organisation's Drinks Market Analysis, the value of global alcohol sales grew 12% last year to reach US$1.17 trillion, while volume rose by a more modest 3% in 2021.

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South Africa's wine industry “must adapt to survive”

Published:  21 January, 2022

Wine oversight body Vinpro has urged South Africa’s winegrowers to use the pandemic crisis as an opportunity “to revive, recover and rebuild,” adapting current business models to better cope with a rapidly changing world.

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South African packaged wine exports to UK rise 25%

Published:  20 January, 2022

In a massive boon for South Africa's quality-led growers, total exports of South African wine to the UK rose 20% by value and 12% in volume in 2021 according to the latest figures released by industry body SAWIS.

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Online uplift to grow

Published:  23 December, 2021

Ecommerce is to remain a key driver of value growth in global alcoholic drinks markets, with wine to the fore. Andrew Catchpole reports.

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Jerry Lockspeiser: On Jeremy Clarkson, margins and the ‘middleman’ dog whistle

Published:  22 December, 2021

In case anyone missed it, Jeremy Clarkson has recently launched his own beer brand, Hawkstone. The lager is made with barley grown on his Cotswolds farm. Exposed to the workings of the supply chain, Clarkson was reportedly aghast at the difference between the £205 per tonne he received for his barley and the £580 paid by the brewers to the middleman.

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IWSR report: E-commerce to grow exponentially in three years

Published:  08 December, 2021

The total value of the e-commerce sector in headline markets is expected to grow at an unprecedented rate between 2022-2025, according to the IWSR.

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Five minutes with Matt Hodgson, Grape Britannia

Published:  06 December, 2021

Matt Hodgson, founder of English wine specialist Grape Britannia, says the time has arrived to look beyond fizz to the UK’s homegrown still gems.

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Cork claims high ground on premium price and climate

Published:  03 November, 2021

Sealing wine with natural cork rather than screwcap can drive higher returns, according to data from Nieslen in a report commissioned by The Portuguese Cork Association.

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UK brands soar in value but still trail global giants

Published:  29 September, 2021

The UK’s leading brands are showing positive signs of recovery in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, leaping in value by 22% to reach a new record high of $278.8 (£207 billion), according to Kantar’s BrandZTM Most Valuable UK Brands 2021 ranking. However, growth rates show they are lagging behind the biggest global brands.

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Brits hoover up Portuguese wine as loss of tourism shows the “Portuguese don’t drink Port”

Published:  29 September, 2021

As the biggest consumers of wine per capita globally, it might be expected that domestic sales of Portuguese wines would have fared well over the course of the pandemic, where drinkers globally were largely turned onto local vinous offerings.

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UK pub and bars predicted to recover fully by 2024

Published:  23 September, 2021

The UK pub and bar market is set to recover to 64% of its pre-pandemic value in 2021 to £14.8bn, Lumina Intelligence has revealed, with full recovery to follow by 2024, possibly exceeding 2019.

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SITT’s Spotlight On to shine on Portugal

Published:  26 August, 2021

Portugal is to take the Spotlight On spot at SITT this autumn, with a dedicated zone featuring 20 leading producers and importers.

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Villa Maria finds buyer following mounting debts

Published:  02 August, 2021

Leading New Zealand winery Villa Maria has signed a conditional agreement for the sale of its estate, three months after it officially went into receivership when it was revealed that it owed bankers NZD $212 million.

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Oz wine exports to UK highest in a decade

Published:  21 July, 2021

Australian wine exports to the UK reached their highest level in a decade during the 2020–21 financial year, according to the latest Wine Australia Export Report released today.

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Hospitality predicted to bounce back and exceed 2019 sales in 2022

Published:  10 June, 2021

The total eating and drinking out market is expected to see 44.7% YOY growth in 2022, the equivalent value of almost £92bn and surpassing its 2019 value growth as pent up demand is set to give the sector a boost in its recovery from the pandemic.

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