Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Fine wine market hits new highs

Published: 05 January, 2022

The global secondary fine wine market has hit new heights in 2021, surpassing previous records and growing in variety. Andrew Catchpole dips in.

Online uplift to grow

Published: 23 December, 2021

Ecommerce is to remain a key driver of value growth in global alcoholic drinks markets, with wine to the fore. Andrew Catchpole reports.

Cava’s 2021 exports surge towards pre-pandemic levels

Published: 17 December, 2021

Global shipments of Spain's signature sparkling wine grew by 16.45% in the first nine months of the year, according to the Cava Consejo Regulador.

Bouncing Back Q&A: Ben Knollys, MD, Hatch Mansfield

Published: 16 December, 2021

Continuing our seasonal Bouncing Back Q&A series, Ben Knollys takes stock of the challenges and lessons of 2021 and considers the path ahead for the trade.

Bouncing Back Q&A: David Gates, CEO, Laithwaites

Published: 13 December, 2021

Continuing our seasonal Bouncing Back Q&A series, David Gates, CEO, Laithwaites takes stock of the challenges and lessons of 2021 and considers the path ahead for the trade.

Bouncing Back Q&A: Sam Thackeray, MD, Enotria & Coe

Published: 08 December, 2021

Continuing our seasonal Bouncing Back Q&A series, Sam Thackery of Enotria & Coe takes stock of the challenges and lessons of 2021 and considers the path ahead for the trade.

How can scotch thrive post-pandemic?

Published: 01 December, 2021

Douglas Blyde looks at some of the more innovative strides made by Scotch producers over the course of the pandemic in order to remain resilient in the fallout from Brexit, lockdowns and the USA’s draconian import taxes.

Spain inches up

Published: 02 November, 2021

Spanish wines appear to be holding ground against the broader UK wine market, with signs of uplift at the mid-to-high end. Andrew Catchpole sizes up the stats.

SLTA issues call for ‘level playing field’ in pubs and supermarkets duty

Published: 27 October, 2021

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) is calling on the Government to overhaul the alcohol excise duty system and introduce new measures that would create a differential between alcohol sold in pubs and supermarkets.

The post-pandemic somm

Published: 21 October, 2021

Staff shortages and supply problems are only some of the challenges sommeliers are facing today, as Jacopo Mazzeo reports.

Late-night sector loses 86,000 jobs due to pandemic

Published: 13 October, 2021

The UK’s night-time cultural economy (NTCE) sector has been ravaged by the pandemic, with around 86,000 jobs lost in the sector since the 2019 high, a new report has found.

New campaign calls for Chancellor to keep VAT at 12.5% to support hospitality recovery

Published: 07 October, 2021

A major new campaign – #VATsEnough – is calling on the Chancellor Rishi Sunak to make the 12.5% VAT rate permanent for hospitality and tourism.

CGA: Digital consumerism continues to accelerate post-Covid

Published: 28 September, 2021

New research undertaken by CGA Strategy and a global reputation management firm has revealed the importance of maintaining a robust digital presence in the pandemic era, with consumers increasingly focusing on social media reputations – and peer review sites – before planning a night out.

UK pub and bars predicted to recover fully by 2024

Published: 23 September, 2021

The UK pub and bar market is set to recover to 64% of its pre-pandemic value in 2021 to £14.8bn, Lumina Intelligence has revealed, with full recovery to follow by 2024, possibly exceeding 2019.

Future-proofing the on-trade

Published: 22 September, 2021

With the buffeting the on-trade has received it’s hardly surprising that many are talking about ongoing change, as Andrew Catchpole asks what form that may take.

Survey: Indie minded

Published: 21 September, 2021

With our UK’s 50 Best Indies 2021 list unveiled, we’re revealing (anonymously) some of the insights gleaned from our entrants’ survey responses as to how businesses adapted their portfolios and subsequently thrived during the pandemic. Andrew Catchpole picks the persistent trends.

Inflexible hospitality sector faces continued labour crisis, as job vacancies surge past one million

Published: 14 September, 2021

The UK’s hospitality industry must embrace more flexible working patterns if it intends to survive, a leading commentator has claimed.

Fine wine becoming a ‘regular luxury’ for British consumers

Published: 08 September, 2021

A recent survey commissioned by fine wine merchant Bordeaux Index suggests that the pandemic has led to a surge of interest in fine wine buying – either for immediate consumption or longer term investment.

UK’s 50 Best Indies 2021: 31-50

Published: 07 September, 2021

Welcome to the release of our second tranche of our 50 Best Indies list, from 31-40, also featuring all of those that have made it into the 31-50 ranking so far.

Vinpro: ‘Hopeful for a positive outcome’

Published: 26 August, 2021

Vinpro has said it is “hopeful for a positive outcome” following the announcement by the Western Cape High Court that it reserved judgement in the court case during which the industry body contested the approach followed by government towards alcohol ban restrictions.