Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Grocery BWS sales boom in January with hospitality lockdown

Published: 02 February, 2021

Alcohol sales in the grocery sector grew overall by 29% in January boosted by the closure of the on-trade sector with the Covid-19 lockdown.

Vinpro pushes ahead with court case as SA alcohol ban lifted

Published: 02 February, 2021

Vinpro has welcomed last night’s announcement that the third alcohol ban on local liquor sales has been lifted, but said it would push ahead with the court application it launched in the Cape High Court last month to help save the beleaguered industry.

Four in five eager to get back to going out

Published: 01 February, 2021

Consumers are badly missing hospitality experiences, with four in five, or 80%, hoping to revisit the on-trade within a few weeks of reopening, according to the latest edition of CGA’s 2021 Hospitality Consumer Forecast, which explores attitudes to the on-trade while Britain remains under lockdown.

Tech & Innovation: The rule of change

Published: 01 February, 2021

A surge of smaller, indie-focused delivery platforms and third-party apps are helping to bridge the gap between neighbourhood restaurants, bars and consumers, accelerating pre-lockdown trends, as Jo Gilbert discovers

Worshipful Company of Distillers expands educational initiative

Published: 01 February, 2021

The Worshipful Company of Distillers’ (WCD) has launched a programme of scholarships and bursaries set to benefit more than 100 students over the next three years.

Vinpro: ‘Cellar capacity and financial viability remain a big concern”

Published: 01 February, 2021

Vinpro has announced that South African wine producers and viticulturists are optimistic about the quality of this year’s vintage following favourable weather conditions.

Beale: ‘Punishingly high duty rates stifling home grown wine and spirit businesses’

Published: 28 January, 2021

The WSTA has renewed its calls on the Chancellor to cut alcohol duty to allow UK businesses to “thrive and compete on a global stage”.

Pandemic cost hospitality £200m a day in 2020

Published: 28 January, 2021

Turnover for the hospitality sector dropped to less than half of 2019 levels in 2020, slipping by almost £72bn, which translates to nearly £200m a day, according to the latest edition of the UK Hospitality (UKH) and CGA Quarterly Tracker.

Vinpro approaches courts to save SA wine industry

Published: 27 January, 2021

Vinpro has announced it has approached the Cape High Court in a bid to save the beleaguered South African wine industry.

WSTA and SMEs call on Chancellor for further support in budget

Published: 21 January, 2021

Many of the UK’s best known wine and spirit SMEs have written a joint letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak urging him to cut duty while extended the hospitality’s VAT cut to provide further relief for those struggling with the pandemic.

Majestic appoints director of subscriptions

Published: 19 January, 2021

Majestic Wine has appointed Mark Capon to the newly created role of director of subscriptions.

NZW reports strong UK off-trade performance

Published: 19 January, 2021

New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW) has reported a 23% leap in off-trade value sales of New Zealand wine in the UK.

CGA: ‘Suppliers well placed to help operators capitalise on post-lockdown opportunities’

Published: 19 January, 2021

The Covid-19 pandemic has triggered important changes in people’s attitudes to food and created a split between those seeking quality and value, but suppliers are well placed to help operators capitalise on post-lockdown sales opportunities, a new CGA survey has suggested.

SA wine exports to the UK leap 23%

Published: 18 January, 2021

South African wine exports to the UK, its leading export market, surged last year with both value and volume sales up.

IWSR acquires Wine Intelligence

Published: 18 January, 2021

IWSR Drinks Market Analysis has acquired Wine Intelligence for an undisclosed sum.

UKH: ‘GDP figures highlight importance of hospitality’

Published: 18 January, 2021

GDP figures for November, released last Friday, have highlighted the impact of hospitality on the UK’s economy and made the case for the sector to be “at the heart of reopening plans”, UK Hospitality (UKH) has said.

Hospitality and foodservice revenues forecasted to drop £30bn in 2021

Published: 13 January, 2021

Revenues across the hospitality and foodservice industry have been forecasted to take a £30bn hit this year, with Covid restrictions likely to play out well into 2021.

Majestic top rated retailer at Best Places to Work awards

Published: 13 January, 2021

Majestic Wine has been recognised with a Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award, as one the Best Places to Work in 2020.

WG&S: ‘Decentralisation of luxury consumers present unique challenges for luxury brands’

Published: 12 January, 2021

The pandemic has caused an accelerated shift in consumer habits and brand activity, driving a decentralisation of luxury and making it irrevocably accessible to consumers, according to William Grant & Sons (WG&S) Trending 2021 Report.