Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Multiples: Green moves on Aldi wine aisle

Published: 11 April, 2024

James Bayley talks us through Aldi’s new paper wine bottles and how the move could revolutionise supermarket drinks packaging.

Cork & Closures: Back to cork

Published: 01 March, 2024

As Broadland Drinks re-installs its corking line after a 15-year absence, Jo Gilbert looks at the future for cork as a technically sound, carbon negative option.

Multiples: Mixed Xmas 2023 for BWS

Published: 12 February, 2024

Some supermarkets reported buoyant sales over the festive period. James Bayley crunches the numbers.

Multiples: Healthy year-round growth for low & no

Published: 22 January, 2024

Supermarkets are reporting a consistent uptick in sales of this much-talked about category– and not just during the traditional post-festive period. James Bayley reports.

BWS Christmas sales down for UK multiples

Published: 11 January, 2024

Despite record spend on groceries during Christmas in UK supermarkets, sales of beer, wine and spirits were all in decline over the same period.

Segura Viudas launches first-to-market premium Cava in Tesco

Published: 19 May, 2023

Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava is to launch exclusively in Tesco stores across the UK from Monday 22 May. The listing in Tesco is the first in any global market for this new quality tier.

Majestic’s Rob Cooke joins WSTA board

Published: 28 April, 2023

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has welcomed Majestic’s COO, Rob Cooke, to its board this month.

Pressure on energy and foodservice providers to tackle ‘greedflation’

Published: 14 April, 2023

Industry leaders are calling on Ofgem to force energy suppliers to renegotiate contracts signed with hospitality businesses at the height of the supply crisis, as price inflation continues to rise – and attract criticism – at the biggest FMCG firms, including Tesco.

Multiples: Consumers swapping to convenience stores

Published: 12 September, 2022

The pandemic years have shown a marked alteration in the fundamental patterns of shopping. During the first lockdown, there was a noticeable shift to more local shopping, as consumers strove to minimise contact with others. Today it would appear this trend has embedded itself in the very mindset of the average shopper, with convenience stores now accounting for 28.9% of UK grocery shopping.

Supermarkets and the benefits of own-label wines

Published: 12 August, 2022

When a ‘wine person’ opens a bottle of wine, it is safe to say much has been considered beforehand. Where is it from? What is the back story? How was it made?

Retail market starting to return to pre-Covid norms

Published: 04 July, 2022

According to Kantar, sales are falling at all the major multiples, but it’s not all doom and gloom. During the 12 weeks to 12 June, supermarket sales, including alcohol, groceries and softs, fell 1.9% year on year. Supermarket alcohol sales are also declining, down 12% year on year in the same period.

Harpers Exclusive: The Wines Direct Consumer Award winners 2022

Published: 30 May, 2022

Now in its fourth year, Harpers can exclusively reveal the 2022 Wine Direct Awards results.

Cono Sur launches new Sauvignon Blanc Blush as pale rosé trend continues to soar

Published: 25 April, 2022

Cono Sur, one of Chile’s leading wineries, has launched a new Sauvignon Blanc Blush into its Bicicleta range.

Multiples: New world, same aisle

Published: 20 April, 2022

Supermarket wine ranges are continuing to evolve in 2022, as James Bayley discovers.

Multiples: New world, same aisle

Published: 20 April, 2022

Supermarket wine ranges are continuing to evolve in 2022, as James Bayley discovers.

Five minutes with Caroline Thompson-Hill, Accolade Wines

Published: 10 November, 2021

Jo Gilbert finds out more about the Accolade Mud House/Tesco Loop partnership via Caroline Thompson-Hill, managing director, Europe, at Accolade Wines.

Ex-Tesco wine buying manager joins Cadman

Published: 26 May, 2021

Cadman Capital Group, a private equity firm that specialises in the retail wine sector, has appointed former Tesco buying manager, James Reed, as its new general manager of retail wine.

IWC announces 2021 winners

Published: 17 May, 2021

The International Wine Challenge (IWC) has announced the winners of its 2021 competition, with a haul of 6,800 medals being claimed across over 40 countries.