Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Diageo launches Chinese spirit Shui Jing Fang in UK

Published: 05 July, 2012

Diageo has launched Shui Jing Fang into the UK market on the back of its strategic investment into Chinese white spirits.

Spotlight on Scotch whisky following Diageo's £1bn investment

Published: 08 June, 2012

Self-belief within the Scotch whisky industry hit an all-time high this week when Diageo announced it was investing £1 billion over the next five years to boost production by 30-40%.

London Cocktail Week announces new partnership for 2012

Published: 30 May, 2012

London Cocktail Week is to partner Covent Garden's Seven Dials, which will become the official hub for the event in its third year.

Diageo Reserve Brands adds to Johnnie Walker range

Published: 01 May, 2012

Diageo Reserve Brands has launched two new additions to the core global Johnnie Walker range, in order to tap into the growing consumer trend of trading up to premium whisky blends.

Drinks trade makes the Rich List

Published: 30 April, 2012

The drinks trade secured around a dozen spots in the Sunday Times' Rich List 2012, published yesterday.

Emerging markets offer big opportunities

Published: 25 April, 2012

Drinks companies that abandon or ignore business opportunities in the UK and Western Europe do so at their peril...

Convenience is king for new breed of shopper

Published: 24 April, 2012

New consumer research by Diageo GB has found 93% of shopping trips in the convenience off-trade are for "something for tonight" as opposed to a routine shop or for an event.

Diageo and Coca Cola launch £3.5m summer campaign

Published: 19 April, 2012

Diageo has teamed up with Coca Cola to celebrate the British Summer in £3.5 million off-trade campaign centred around the season's patriotic events.

Drinks producers to strengthen ad standards across Europe

Published: 16 April, 2012

Major alcoholic drinks producers have agreed to ramp up their voluntary advertising regulations in Europe.

Blossom Hill in £1.2m rosé wine push

Published: 29 March, 2012

Blossom Hill is hoping to drive the appeal of rosé to a wider audience this summer with a £1.2 million marketing campaign.

LIVE: trade reacts to minimum pricing plans

Published: 23 March, 2012

News that David Cameron plans to introduce a minimum price for alcohol of 40p per unit and outlaw the sale of multi-buy deals has provoked a strong reaction from the drinks industry.

Diageo promotes Ivan Menezes to chief operating officer

Published: 29 February, 2012

Diageo has promoted its current North America and Asia Pacific boss Ivan Menezes to chief operating officer.

Wine and spirits needs business leaders to defend action on responsible drinking

Published: 24 February, 2012

The wine and spirit industry lacks a Tim Martin or Sir Philip Green figure to argue its case in the media, it has been claimed.

Pernod Ricard's Simon Thomas new Benevolent chair

Published: 10 January, 2012

Pernod Ricard UK's deputy managing director Simon Thomas has been appointed the new chairman of the Benevolent.

EU resolves White Zinfandel row

Published: 09 January, 2012

A dispute over the use of the term White Zinfandel in the European Union has been resolved.

Sainsbury's in sensible drinking push

Published: 06 January, 2012

Sainsbury's has teamed up with Drinkaware, Diageo and Heineken to push a new responsible drinking campaign in-store.

Fake Blossom Hill alert in Scotland

Published: 21 December, 2011

Fake Blossom Hill has been found on sale in Scotland.

Scotch whisky exports at record high as new chairman announced

Published: 02 December, 2011

Scotch whisky exports reached a new high, bolstering the UK economy to the tune of £125 per second, as the Scotch Whisky Association unveiled Edrington's Ian Curle as its new chairman.

WSTA comms director appointed interim CEO

Published: 01 December, 2011

WSTA's communications director Gavin Partington has to step up to the role of interim chief executive as the hunt for Jeremy Beadles replacement continues.