Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

On-trade drinkers unwilling to experiment

Published: 22 January, 2015

Eight out of 10 on-trade drinkers say they rarely or never try new alcoholic drinks - that's according to research from Canadean.

On-trade supplier Matthew Clark toasts bumper December as sales top £100m

Published: 20 January, 2015

On-trade drinks supplier Matthew Clark says December was its most successful month ever as sales broke the £100 million mark, as customers plumped for top-end wines and Champagnes.

Diageo's World Class Bartender of the Year search begins with bartender semi-finals

Published: 19 January, 2015

Fifty of the UK's top bartenders have been selected to take part in the semi-finals of Diageo's competition to find the best bar talent as part of its Reserve World Class 2015 competition.

Copestick Murray to distribute advertising mogul Sir John Hegarty's wines

Published: 19 January, 2015

Copestick Murray was inspired by Bartle Bogle Hegarty co-founder Sir John Hegarty's 'no holds barred' keynote speech at the WSTA conference last year to sign a distribution deal for his wines in the UK and Ireland.

Daffy's Gin hopes to win over bars and spirit lovers with its unique mix of botanicals

Published: 15 January, 2015

Daffy's Gin is the latest new launch in to an already bursting category, but claims it uses a unique set of botanicals, including Lebanese mint, to make its own mark.

London coffee and wine bar operator Notes set for expansion

Published: 15 January, 2015

London coffee and wine bar operator Notes is to opening three outlets in 2015, and plans to continue expanding at a rate of two to three sites per year from 2016.

Pub and restaurant groups grow Christmas trading 2.8%

Published: 15 January, 2015

Pub and restaurant groups across the country enjoyed a festive trading boost of 2.8% on the same period last year, with those inside London putting in a stronger performance.

Tattooed bartenders are stars of new Giffard liqueurs and spirits campaign

Published: 14 January, 2015

Eleven tattooed bartenders have been chosen to take part in a new campaign to help raise awareness of the Giffard range of liqueurs and spirits.

Carluccio's takes on Neil Wickers as new chief executive for national Italian restaurant group

Published: 13 January, 2015

Neil Wickers is to take over as chief executive of Carluccios's the 105-strong Italian restaurant group with sites across the UK.

London on-trade groups see festive sales uplift

Published: 13 January, 2015

Restaurant group D&D London and Davy's Wine Merchants have seen solid uplifts in performance over the Christmas trading period.

Harpers Awards 2015 are open for entry!

Published: 13 January, 2015

The entry process for the Harpers Awards 2015 is well and truly underway with the opportunity for businesses and individuals from across the UK on and off-trades to receive recognition for their hard work and achievements.

Q&A: Diego Muntoni, head sommelier, OXO Restaurant

Published: 12 January, 2015

From the whiff of fermenting grapes at his family's vineyard to his first job behind a bar, the OXO Restaurant's head sommelier guides us through his career so far

Eating out to see 2% growth in 2015, says Horizons

Published: 12 January, 2015

The eating-out sector is likely to continue growing at the same rate as 2014 in the coming year, says foodservice consultancy Horizons.

Profile: Roka is on a roll

Published: 09 January, 2015

With its fourth and largest London restaurant to date, can Roka maintain its already high standards? Geoffrey Dean puts the kitchen through its paces

New Street Wine Shop changes strategy by consumer demand

Published: 09 January, 2015

After two years of trading, London's New Street Wine Shop is thriving. But, as Richard Foster discovers, its customers have entirely up-ended the original business plan

2014 Review and Hopes and Fear for 2015: Direct Wine Shipments Neal McAlindon

Published: 24 December, 2014

Neal McAlindon, director at Belfast's Direct Wine Shipments, tells Harpers.co.uk why 2014 has been another good year, despite tricky market conditions in Northern Ireland.

Harpers.co.uk's 10 most popular stories of 2014

Published: 23 December, 2014

The most popular stories on Harpers.co.uk throughout 2014 cover everything from TescoGate to Bordeaux 2013 to BrewDog and Bibendum PLB.

Sparkling wine is success story of 2014, as still wine sales fall, says WSTA report

Published: 19 December, 2014

Wine sales fell 3% in the off-trade in 2014, and 2% in the on-trade - but sparkling wines are still in the ascendancy, says the latest market report from the Wine & Spirits Trade Association.