Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

New interactive 'Instagram-able' bar ordering app launches

Published: 04 December, 2019

A new 'Instagram-able' interactive bar ordering app bridging the digital and physical worlds has been unveiled by Cambridge Consultants.

Future 50 up-and-coming drinks stars announced

Published: 29 November, 2019

The final selection for the Future 50 awards was revealed at an International Wine & Spirit Competition event last night.

CBD winners on a high as premium demand grows

Published: 06 November, 2019

CBD is the new rock ’n’ roll of drinks, but products infused with this by-product of the hemp plant are only just starting to find their feet. A revolution is likely on the way, finds Andrew Catchpole.

Digital frontiers

Published: 30 October, 2019

Excel spreadsheets and WhatsApping account reps should be a thing of the past, say the brains behind OnStock, a new online ordering platform for the UK bar trade from the Vanquish and 31Dover team, as Jo Gilbert reports.

Ed Baker, managing director, Kingsland Drinks

Published: 18 October, 2019

A refreshed Kingsland Drinks is investing heavily in new formats and product-bottling lines to turbo-charge its bespoke drinks service. Jo Gilbert catches up with its new managing director

Major shift-around as Kingsland Drinks re-thinks senior leadership team

Published: 16 August, 2019

Manchester-based bottler Kingsland Drinks has announced high-level executive changes to devote greater focus on its “strategic development and business direction”.

Benchmark in global push on back of new funding

Published: 15 August, 2019

London-based Benchmark Drinks has won new finance to fund international expansion.

Gosnells launches meads in cans

Published: 30 July, 2019

Gosnells of Peckham, London’s only Meadery, has claimed a European first with the launch of mead in cans.

Mentzendorff ride smashes fundraising target for The Benevolent

Published: 12 July, 2019

The Mentzendorff team has once again picked up their bikes and donned their lycra to raise an impressive sum for industry drinks charity, The Benevolent.

Falling UK alcohol consumption driving premiumisation, Mintel finds

Published: 11 July, 2019

As many as 20% of UK adults now do not drink alcohol, according to the latest British Lifestyles report from Mintel. At the same time, 47% of those who do drink alcohol have cut back their consumption.

Basset protégés pop the cork on second L'Atelier du Vin

Published: 10 July, 2019

L’ATELIER DU VIN

British Ambassadors call for more British wine and spirits at international events

Published: 20 June, 2019

The UK’s Ambassadors and senior diplomats have said they want to serve more English wine and British gin.

Masa + Mezcal brings taste of Mexico to Bristol

Published: 16 April, 2019

MASA + MEZCAL

Global Brands sales top £50m

Published: 04 April, 2019

Global Brands has reported a 19.5% sales increase, taking turnover to over £50 million to 30 September 2018.

Restaurants continue to struggle as consumers tighten purse strings ahead of Brexit

Published: 11 March, 2019

The restaurant trade suffered another tough month in February with the mini heatwave towards the end of the month failing to move the whole market much, despite an encouraging performance from the pub trade.

Amathus strengthens Priorat and Montsant

Published: 06 March, 2019

Amathus Drinks has expanded its Spanish portfolio with the addition of two new Catalonian producers: Celler l’Encastell from Priorat and Celler Masroig from Montsant.

Smartphones dominate as online retail sales hits new high

Published: 05 March, 2019

In the fast evolving online retail market, sales via smartphone have overtaken both desktop and tablet, and at a time when online grocery retail has reached a new high of £8 billion in the UK.

Thc could replace abv as consumers look to cannabis for an “intoxicating buzz”

Published: 28 February, 2019

Experts have warned that alcoholic drinks is the FMCG category most likely to be under threat from cannabis, which will be at the heart of a “global paradigm shift” over the next decade.

Deflecting the Brexit bomb

Published: 06 February, 2019

Counting Daphne’s, Scott’s, Sexy Fish, Caprice, the fast-growing Ivy Collection, J. Sheeky and Harry’s Bar among its swish restaurants and watering holes, Caprice Holdings can be seen as something of a barometer for trends sweeping through the premium on-trade. And the same can be said of the drinks offer, which morphs from cool cocktails to fine wines – and everything in between – across the various brands and estates.

Teetotal for a year: why waking up to low and no is the trade's biggest challenge

Published: 30 January, 2019

The driest month of the year is almost over. But as the trend for drinking less but better – or not at all – continues into 2019, many consumers will be planning to moderate well into February and beyond. Changing drinking habits is something we can no longer ignore, says Hugh Jones, former prestige sale manager at Mentzendorff and now head of sales at Lucky Saint, which produces a 0.5% beer. Reporting for Harpers, Jones explains why he has vowed to go teetotal for a year with the aim of exploring what trade needs to do to stay relevant – while also making the most of the opportunities in the ever-evolving drinks industry.