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The week that was

Top Stories: The trade was dealt a major blow last night as it emerged Conviviality’s bid to raise £125m in emergency funds failed, leading to its probable demise.

The news follows a tumultuous month of profit warnings and the departure of CEO Diana Hunter, leading many to speculate that administrators would soon been brought in to manage the breakup of the wholesaling giant, which spans everything from leading on-trade supplier Matthew Clark and Bibendum PLB to retailers Bargain Booze and Wine Rack.

With jobs and supply hanging in the balance, Harpers will be following what happens closely as well covering it in depth in our April issue, looking at not only how it all went so badly wrong, but what the future could hold for its products, customers, and staff.

We also bring you more from our shorter than usual, but news-packed Easter week on the links below.

• Yapp Brothers creates head of sales position
• Conviviality to raise £125 million to avoid collapsing
• Top 50 Drinks Wholesalers
• UK trade responds as EU27 approves negotiating guidelines for next phase of Brexit and transitional deal
• Conviviality breakup likely as £125m fundraiser fails
• Côtes du Rhône scam sold 66 million bottles of fake wine

Analysis and Insights: With International Women's Day 2018 falling on March 8, Harpers took a look at the outlets championing the trade’s female winemakers.

We also headed to mainland Europe for a bit of an Iberian focus, with features on both Portugal and Spain.

• Championing the all female winemaker list
• Portugal Uncovered
• Spain raises the stakes

People and Opinion:  What have Kevin the Carrot, a wine called Sex, and Anything But Chardonnay got in common asks Jerry Lockspeiser in this month’s column on the effect of trading under auspices of a nanny state.  

And we heard from Robin Davis, owners and wine director at online retailer Swig.

• Jerry Lockspeiser: It’s time to treat drinkers like adults
• Meet the buyers: Robin Davis, owner/wine director, Swig