Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Morrisons continues to face challenges as sales slump 1.1% in Q1

Published: 07 May, 2015

Morrisons reported like-for-like sales down 2.9% in the first quarter of the financial year today with total sales (excluding fuel) down 1.1%.

Kantar: £532m lost from supermarket revenue pool in just three months

Published: 06 May, 2015

Kantar Worldpanel released it most recent UK retail figures today showing that "a massive £532m has been taken out of the supermarket revenue pool in just three months" according to Fraser McKevitt, the head of retail and consumer insights at Kantar.

Morrisons announces corporate restructure with 720 jobs to be cut from HQ

Published: 16 April, 2015

Morrisons announced today that it plans to eliminate 720 jobs at its head office with the drinks team at risk of potential redundancies.

Morrisons' new boss faces a tough challenge say City analysts

Published: 12 March, 2015

Morrison's results were broadly in line with expectations, City analysts agreed - but incoming chief executive David Potts faces a tough year.

Morrisons posts losses of £792m as 23 convenience stores come into the firing line

Published: 12 March, 2015

Morrisons has posted an annual pre-tax loss of £792m, as total turnover fell 4.9% to £16,816m in the 52 weeks to 1 February 2015.

Supermarkets lose £400m in sales as price deflation gives further savings to consumers

Published: 10 March, 2015

Supermarkets are missing out on £400 million in sales as price deflation continues to pick up pace offering further savings to consumers, according to latest figures from Kantar Worldpanel.

Shifting retail landscape likely to benefit independents, Wilson says

Published: 05 March, 2015

Shifts expected in the off-trade over the next 12 months are likely to create a "huge opportunity" for independent merchants, according to Tim Wilson of the Wilson Drinks Report.

Ex-Tesco director David Potts named as new Morrisons chief executive

Published: 25 February, 2015

Morrisons has named former Tesco director, David Potts, as its new chief executive following weeks of speculation of who would succeed Dalton Phillips who announced he was stepping down in January.

Tesco and rest of the supermarket industry returning to growth, says Kantar

Published: 10 February, 2015

After 13 reported months of decline Tesco has posted 0.3% growth and the supermarket industry as a whole appears to be improving with growth accelerating to 1.1%.

Aldi set to open another 70 stores this year in the UK

Published: 05 February, 2015

Aldi plans to open 70 more stores across the UK and hire 150 store managers, 300 assistant managers and 4,500 store staff in 2015.

IWC claims retailers can raise millions of pounds in extra sales by using medal stickers

Published: 30 January, 2015

Using award winning wine stickers on bottles can boost total wine sales by up to 15% in retail outlets, equating to millions of pounds in extra sales, according to research released today by the International Wine Challenge.

Waitrose bucks grocery trend for store closures with 14 new openings for 2015

Published: 14 January, 2015

Waitrose is bucking the trend of store closures and job losses in the grocery sector by opening 14 new outlets in 2015, with more in the pipeline for 2016.

Big four grocers face 'unprecedented' competition, says Kantar

Published: 13 January, 2015

Christmas sales figures are neck-in-neck across the grocery market, according to Kantar's latest data, which shows the retailers are the closest they have ever been since the market research firm began keeping records 20 years ago.

Morrisons pulls plug on CEO Dalton Philips amid disappointing Xmas sales

Published: 13 January, 2015

Morrisons saw like-for-like sales fall 3.1% in the six weeks to January 4 - making it the worst supermarket performer over Christmas - as the board pulled the plug on embattled chief executive Dalton Philips.

Up to 95% of suppliers demand retailers change the way they work with them

Published: 09 January, 2015

Up to 95% of the 200 suppliers who took part in our survey into the behaviour of major UK retailers want them to change. Here Gemma McKenna reveals what suppliers really think of the big multiples

2014 Review and Hopes and Fears for 2015: Morrisons Mark Jarman

Published: 24 December, 2014

Mark Jarman, head of wine operations at Morrisons, relives the retailer's award-winning year and predicts further success for sherry and South American wines.

Price wars saved UK shoppers £182m in last three months, says Kantar

Published: 17 December, 2014

While the grocery market has returned to very slight growth, real grocery deflation, which has seen prices fall by 0.7% versus last year, equates to savings of £182 million for consumers in the last three months, according to Kantar.

Morrisons rapped by ASA for "misleading" wine adverts after only two complaints

Published: 26 November, 2014

Morrisons has been forced by the Advertising Standards Authority to pull what it claims are "misleading" adverts offering special promotions after only two complaints.

Lidl best value supermarket for wine, says new app

Published: 10 November, 2014

Lidl is the UK's best supermarket for wine when it comes to value - according to an 18-month study tasting over 4,000 wines carried out by the Wotwine app.

Morrisons sales slump but supermarket sees 'progress'

Published: 06 November, 2014

Morrisons' saw a sharp drop off in sales in the last three months, but insisted it had "made progress" on its strategy, and needed more time to see the results.