Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Australian wine supply outstripping demand

Published: 01 December, 2025

Wine Australia has unveiled its Production, Sales and Inventory Report 2025 which detailed a worsening imbalance between supply and demand over the past year.

Majestic completes acquisition of Enotria&Coe

Published: 15 April, 2025

Majestic has confirmed the completion of its acquisition of wine and spirit distributor Enotria&Coe as part of its drive to become the pre-eminent supplier of wines and spirits across the UK.

Hallgarten takes stock of growth having added 50% to turnover

Published: 28 January, 2025

Few followers of Harpers newsfeed could have missed the massive drive by Hallgarten & Novum Wines to bring aboard new agencies and staff in the wake of its acquisition by Coterie Holdings in December 2023. In the past 12 months alone, some 30 producers, along with 300 wines, have been added to the portfolio, backed by 30 new faces that have joined the team. And the upshot is a strengthened import and distribution business that is a serious force to be reckoned with, anchored by the investment and stability that Coterie has been able to provide.

Friday Read: Encirc on uncorking the path to Net Zero

Published: 15 March, 2024

Fiacre O’Donnell, sustainability director at glass container manufacturer Encirc, looks at the future of sustainability for wine and spirits supply, including low-carbon/alternative energy fuels and the possibilities of a digital deposit return scheme (DDRS).

Julian Momen on ‘re-focusing’ Enotria

Published: 28 February, 2024

Enotria & Coe’s new CEO has spent the months since his inauguration working on honing a back-to-basics approach while refocusing parts of the business which “felt a bit unstructured”.

New Zealand supplies back in full flow at autumn tasting

Published: 15 November, 2023

New Zealand touched down via the country’s autumn tasting in London yesterday (14 November), where winemakers were celebrating a bumper harvest in 2023 and the knock-on effect, which has provided a boost to the world’s wine supply at a time when the global crush is at an all-time low.

‘Better for me’ drinks and ‘borderless wine’ among top innovative trends for 2023

Published: 23 January, 2023

Harpers caught up with some of the leading experts in the trade to share their top predictions for 2023.

Relief for New Zealand's ‘severely depleted’ cellars

Published: 01 September, 2022

New Zealand has reported a healthier harvest and a boost for the country’s inflation-hit supply chain after 2022 delivered in terms of size.

Global wine exports reach record high

Published: 03 May, 2022

This year 2021 saw a partial recovery of global consumption after the doldrums of 2020, the OIV said in its latest update. However, 2022’s outlook is looking increasingly uncertain due to the turbulence posed by the global supply chain crisis, the war in Ukraine and mounting energy prices.

50 Top Drinks Wholesaler 2022 nominations are open

Published: 09 February, 2022

Following a change of format during the pandemic, we’re delighted to announce that Harpers' annual 50 Top Drinks Wholesaler list, celebrating the best wholesalers in the UK, is back its original form.

Indies: Fighting fit?

Published: 17 January, 2022

Adaptability has been key for indies that have sought not just to survive, but to thrive, as Angela Mount reports.

Yuletide cheer

Published: 22 December, 2021

With supply and delivery issues forcing indies to be nimble and imaginative for the Christmas rush, Andrew Catchpole asked a trio of merchants how they prepared for the festive sales spike in such an unpredictable year.

Sunak announces new relief for hospitality sector

Published: 21 December, 2021

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a further round of grants of up to £6,000 per hospitality premise, also committing to a top up of discretionary grant funding, as part of a £1 billion package to support the sector.

Bouncing Back Q&A: Caroline Thompson-Hill, MD for Europe, Accolade Wines

Published: 20 December, 2021

Continuing our seasonal Bouncing Back Q&A series, Caroline Thompson-Hill takes stock of the lessons of 2021 and calls out the challenge posed to trade by the proposed alcohol duty reforms.

Soapbox: Richard Lloyd at The Park makes the case for agile supply chains

Published: 22 November, 2021

We hear from Richard Lloyd, general manager for European operations and supply chain at The Park, the hub of Accolade Wines’ European operations and an independent business in its own right, on how the industry can work together to overcome its supply chain difficulties

Demand for NZ wine continues to grow as supply is squeezed

Published: 10 November, 2021

International demand for New Zealand wine continues to grow as export value reached $599M in the first quarter of the new export year, up 9% on the previous year.

Christmas 2021: An optimistic appraisal

Published: 27 October, 2021

The British tabloids have spoken: Christmas 2021 is unlikely to yield much festive cheer. Unfortunately, this isn’t simply press hyperbole – the UK’s food industry is under enormous pressure, while retail supply chains continue to be stymied by a lack of HGV drivers.

Meanwhile, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released a set of data in September which confirmed that the on-trade staffing crisis has not abated. “Sourcing staff has been one of our biggest challenges since we reopened,” says Avinash Shashidhara, head chef at Pali Hill restaurant in London.

What is the cost of blockchain?

Published: 21 October, 2021

The WSTA summit highlighted how the potential for blockchain and other digital supply chain technologies are quickly taking off at pace for wine. But given its energy-guzzling reputation, is this solution sustainable? Jo Gilbert reports.

The big freeze

Published: 18 October, 2021

The tailbacks at Felixstowe are the latest plot-twist in the ongoing Covid and Brexit supply saga which is causing disruption for operators. Jo Gilbert looks at the impact on bulk shipments.

Ferovinum gets capital backing to support wine and spirits sector

Published: 14 October, 2021

Ferovinum, the company that provides capital against wine and spirits inventories, has unveiled a new funding facility with BCI Finance that will enable it to increase the scale of its support.