Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Online auction in aid of The Drinks Trust goes live

Published: 04 June, 2020

The Worshipful Company of Distillers’ online auction in aid of The Drinks Trust goes live this Sunday via Whisky.Auction.

Alcohol sales knocked back until 2022

Published: 04 June, 2020

Despite the shift from on-trade to home drinking, lockdown could still leave a sobering £7bn hole in UK alcohol sales this year.

Locked down Brits hitting the gin boosts Fever-Tree

Published: 04 June, 2020

Fever-tree has reported a strong performance for its premium mixers across the off-trade boosted by locked down Brits hitting gin.

Online uplands: scaling the new heights

Published: 22 May, 2020

Moving to online sales has saved more than one drinks retailer in recent weeks and all the signs point to the model continuing, finds Andrew Catchpole.

On-trade operators should plan ‘relaunch', not ‘reopening’, ahead of 4 July

Published: 21 May, 2020

On-trade operators should “step away from emotion”, challenging themselves to think back to when they started their businesses and consider it a relaunch, not a reopening, when they once again open their doors.

US on-trade reopening gives near-future glimpse of path ahead for UK

Published: 21 May, 2020

Reduced food and drink ranges, continued off-trade sales, ongoing food take-out, plus the need for support from suppliers to ‘optimise drinks assortments’ are among the main takeaways from a recent Nielsen CGA survey of the US restaurant and bar sectors.

NPD: All systems… pause

Published: 18 May, 2020

The global pandemic and changing consumer behaviour that accompanies it have presented myriad challenges when it comes to NPD, as Lisa Riley reports

Living with Lockdown – Daniel Lambert Wines

Published: 14 May, 2020

Agent-importer Daniel Lambert talks to Andrew Catchpole about bypassing critics and trade with live access to winemakers, the dangers of having all eggs in one basket and why its boom time for indies.

Tim Atkin MW: A taste of things to come?

Published: 07 May, 2020

Everyone seems to have advice about how to get through lockdown. Even if we’re all still sitting here in December, our diaries emptier than your local Wetherspoons, I can’t imagine the well-meaning guidance changing much. Eat healthily, exercise, take up a new hobby, read a book, tidy your cupboards, call your friends and family, order food online.

Suppliers seek clarity over support

Published: 07 May, 2020

Key suppliers to the shuttered on-trade have called on the government to help them survive Covid-19, pointing both to clarification on reopening measures and greater financial support.

A third of on-trade senior executives anticipate permanent closure

Published: 06 May, 2020

A third (32%) of senior executives anticipate the need to permanently close pub, bar and restaurant sites post-Covid-19, according to the latest CGA Business Confidence Survey.

Living with lockdown - Jeroboams

Published: 06 May, 2020

Hugh Sturges, MD at Jeroboams, gives Lisa Riley a glimpse of the realities of coping with lockdown

No 'cliff-edge' in furlough scheme

Published: 05 May, 2020

There will be no “cliff-edge” for businesses to face when the Covid-19 Job Retention Scheme (JRS) is brought to end, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said.

Living with lockdown - D&D London

Published: 04 May, 2020

Diana Rollan, group head of beverage at D&D London, gives Lisa Riley a glimpse of what may lay ahead for restaurants when the on-trade starts to reopen.

Securing a rent break key concern for hospitality

Published: 01 May, 2020

Securing a time out on rent has come out as a key priority for Britain’s pubs, bars and restaurants as cashflow concerns top their agendas.

Wine Australia improves educational programme

Published: 01 May, 2020

Wine Australia has improved its Australian Wine Discovered (AWD) educational programme with all modules and materials refreshed and three new modules added.

Wine GB unveils new initiative to support UK producers

Published: 30 April, 2020

Wine GB has unveiled a new initiative aimed at boosting sales of English and Welsh wines to help producers and growers hit by the lack of cellar door sales and the on-trade closure.

AXA Millésimes awards 2020 scholarships to five MW students

Published: 30 April, 2020

The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) and AXA Millésimes have announced the five international winners of the AXA Millésimes scholarship.

Concha y Toro provides lab for Covid-19 testing

Published: 30 April, 2020

Concha y Toro’s Centre for Research and Innovation (CRI) in Chile has had its lab certified for Covid-19 testing.

The Drinks Trust reaches £1m milestone

Published: 30 April, 2020

The Drinks Trust has raised just over £1m via its campaign launched in March to support the people of the drinks industry who have been left in financial crisis as a result of coronavirus (Covid-19).