Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

UK retail lifts moribund global sales at Pernod Ricard

Published: 22 October, 2020

Drinks giant Pernod Ricard has seen its sales drop 6% in the first quarter of the financial year, though UK retail sales remain dynamic.

Berkmann launches web portal for independent merchants

Published: 15 September, 2020

Berkmann Wine Cellars has launched an online resource for independent merchants featuring a tailored range of 300 wines.

Brewdog teases Bad Beer Vodka as brewer celebrates carbon negativity

Published: 24 August, 2020

Beer powerhouse Brewdog is continuing to pave the way for sustainable action as it teases the launch of a zero waste vodka made from brews which are not quite in spec or too old to sell.

Graft bolsters Australia and South African portfolios as it gears up for digital tasting

Published: 24 August, 2020

Graft Wine, last year’s merger of Red Squirrel and The Knotted Vine, is gearing up for a bumper month of activity in September, with two Southern Hemisphere additions joining the company as it takes its autumn tasting online.

Pernod Ricard takes mezcal super premium

Published: 17 July, 2020

French giant Pernod Ricard has grown its stake in the “fast-growing” mezcal segment via Ojo de Tigre, a small-batch spirit made from sustainable agave.

Major brands “reallocating” funds away from on-trade into e-commerce and DTC

Published: 02 July, 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic is facilitating a long-term shift among many of the world’s leading drinks brands’ strategies, it has been suggested, as owners begin to adopt a more “nuanced” approach to channel distribution.

Caroline Thompson-Hill becomes Accolade’s European MD

Published: 01 July, 2020

Accolade Wines has unveiled a reshuffle of its top people in Europe – the company’s biggest market.

Sturges steps down from Jeroboams

Published: 02 June, 2020

London wine merchant Jeroboams is to have a new chief executive, with encumbent Hugh Sturges leaving the role at the end of June.

Innovation Report: Delivering against the odds

Published: 26 May, 2020

When the health crisis forced the on-trade to shut down overnight, drinks suppliers had to think on their feet to keep their businesses going. Jaq Bayles reports

Entries open for The Vintners’ Company’s first industry awards

Published: 18 May, 2020

The Vintners’ Company has launched its own industry awards, set up to “nurture and support the enterprising individuals and companies” who are bringing positive change to the wine industry.

McKeon parts with Accolade

Published: 04 May, 2020

Accolade Wines has confirmed that Ade McKeon, the company’s regional MD for Europe, will be leaving the company.

Distil and BHC end new joint venture

Published: 31 March, 2020

British drinks companies Distil and British Honey Company have folded their recently launched joint venture.

Gonzalez Byass launches new UK Manzanilla

Published: 04 March, 2020

Gonzalez Byass is to release a new Domecq Manzanilla in the UK made at Delgado Zuleta in Andalucia’s Sanlúcar de Barrameda.

Wine Lister joins forces with French media giant

Published: 04 February, 2020

UK-based fine wine agency and analytics platform, Wine Lister, has been acquired by French media outfit, Groupe Figaro.

TWE slashes growth predictions as US business stalls

Published: 29 January, 2020

Treasure Wine Estates (TWE) has cut its predictions of growth for 2020 from between 15% and 20% to between 5% and 10% after its first half-year figures were released yesterday.

Wine Source Group to fuel growth with private equity funding

Published: 10 December, 2019

Private equity fund Saphir Capital has taken a majority stake in international fine-wine supplier Wine Source Group.

DMD aims to take the next step with £500K crowdfunding bid

Published: 04 November, 2019

DMD Ventures, the parent company behind online alcohol retailer 31Dover and on-trade supplier Vanquish, is about to embark on a financial bid to the tune of half a million pounds.

New commercial director role at Mangrove UK

Published: 01 November, 2019

Boutique spirits importer and distributer Mangrove UK has a new head honcho at the helm of the company’s marketing and sales teams.

Glen Moray forges ahead with new head of whisky creation role

Published: 31 October, 2019

Dr Kirstie McCallum is joining top Speyside distillery, Glen Moray, in a new role which puts creation and innovation at the top of the agenda.

Jerry Lockspeiser: Why would anyone invest in a start up?

Published: 21 October, 2019

I recently received an invitation to invest in the BIB Wine Company. They are crowdfunding on the Seedrs platform, one of the UK’s major players in this market. BIB summarise their pitch as: