Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Ian Cumming: Back to Business Q&A

Published: 03 August, 2020

As the trade measures up to extraordinary times and swings into the height of summer, leading businesses and operators take stock of trading conditions in the new normal.

Double dip charitable initiative from Ellis Wines

Published: 31 July, 2020

Ellis Wines is to donate £1 to UK-based charity Hospitality Action against every six bottles sale from five of the family-owned South African estates in its portfolio.

On-trade groups continue to nudge up sales as more sites reopen

Published: 31 July, 2020

Managed pub, bar and restaurant groups open across England and Scotland are seeing a steady improvement in sales as more sites reopen, according to the latest Coffer Peach Business Tracker.

Brits almost halve alcohol intake during lockdown

Published: 29 July, 2020

Brits consumed 1.3 billion litres of alcohol during the UK’s lockdown period, almost half the 2 billion litres recorded during the same period last year, according to new data from Nielsen Scantrack and CGA.

New Majestic stores spearhead post-lockdown growth plans

Published: 29 July, 2020

Majestic Wine has confirmed the opening of new stores in Henley and Beckenham later this year as part of a five-year growth strategy aimed at increasing sales by 10%.

More than 53,000 outlets sign up for Eat Out To Help Out scheme

Published: 29 July, 2020

More than 53,000 restaurants, bars and cafes across the UK have signed up to the government’s Eat Out to Help Out Scheme offering diners a 50% discount during August.

On-trade trading at near 70% of pre-Covid norms

Published: 24 July, 2020

Managed pub, bar and restaurant groups in England have reported improving sales in the second week after shut-down was lifted, boosted by the reopening of more sites, according to the latest Coffer Peach Business Tracker data.

Government releases details of temporary alcohol off-sales extension

Published: 22 July, 2020

The government has released details of its temporary alcohol off-sales permissions.

Emphasis on reservations fuels wave of ‘no shows’

Published: 20 July, 2020

The Covid-led fresh emphasis on reservations is hitting the beleaguered on-trade with a wave a ‘no shows’ recorded since the reopening of the industry.

Armit becomes first merchant to support The Court of Master Sommeliers

Published: 20 July, 2020

Armit Wines has been named as the first wine merchant to support The Court of Master Sommeliers.

On-trade reports 40% drop in weekly sales

Published: 17 July, 2020

Sales across on-trade sites open in England in the first week after lockdown was lifted were down 39.8% compared to the same week last year, according to the latest Coffer Peach Business Tracker data released today.

Hospitality Action launches fundraising campaign

Published: 13 July, 2020

Hospitality Action (HA) has launched an innovative fundraising campaign in support of the beleaguered industry.

Economics of on-trade supply have “hit a brick wall”

Published: 10 July, 2020

The Covid-19 crisis has stripped bare the precarious economic situation of the on-trade and its supply-side, with a correction in the market necessary to improve profitability.

Hospitality reopening weekend spend down 45% on previous year

Published: 08 July, 2020

Despite a big bounce in transactions as many pubs, bars and restaurants reopened their doors on the weekend, overall spend was down across the hospitality, leisure and entertainment sector by 45% compared with the same weekend in 2019.

Covid-19 estimated to cost food and drink SMEs £21k each

Published: 07 July, 2020

New research has estimated that small hospitality businesses operating in food and drink will on average lose £21,586 in lost work, earnings and loan repayments as a result of Covid-19.

Pub reopenings: a frontline view

Published: 06 July, 2020

Jo Eames, creative director and drinks buyer at Peach Pubs, gives the lowdown on the staggered reopening of venues across England’s market towns and how it’s all rolling out post 4 July.

On-trade re-emerges with professional calm and strong bookings

Published: 06 July, 2020

Early indications from those on-trade operators that chose to reopen over the weekend suggest good numbers of customers and both guests and staff taking safety guidelines in their stride.

On-trade ‘test and trace’ guidance published

Published: 03 July, 2020

As pubs, bars, restaurants and cafés re-boot from 4 July, the new NHS Test and Trace guidance will mean that venues should maintain records of staff, customers and visitors, and share these with the health service if requested.

One million hospitality staff due back to work in July

Published: 30 June, 2020

Almost 1 million hospitality staff are expected to be back in work before the end of July, according to a new survey by UK Hospitality (UKH).

On-trade digitisation, premiumisation and personalisation are major trends

Published: 29 June, 2020

A digitised on-trade, premium in home drinking experiences and ‘liquid personalisation’ have been identified as the key trends for the year ahead by research and analyst company Rewrite Digital.