Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Brown-Forman brings all UK distribution in-house

Published: 26 January, 2021

Brown-Forman has announced that it will distribute the entirety of its brand portfolio in the UK.

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.

GCA calls on suppliers to say if retailers are treating them 'fairly and lawfully'

Published: 13 January, 2021

Mark White, the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA), has launched the annual survey with a call to wine and spirit suppliers to tell him if retailers are treating them “fairly and lawfully”.

Bordeaux Index sales top $125m

Published: 12 January, 2021

Fine wine and spirits merchant Bordeaux Index has recorded over $125m in total sales in 2020.

Drinking in the new sustainability

Published: 11 January, 2021

A critical mass of smaller, sustainability-focused players is helping the wine and spirits industries reach new levels of innovation and accountability, writes Jo Gilbert

Enotria unveils details of premium WSET course

Published: 07 January, 2021

Enotria & Coe has unveiled the details of its premium WSET course launching this month.

BWS supermarket sales surge 25%

Published: 05 January, 2021

Supermarket sales of beer, wines and spirits (BWS) surged 25% to £4.9m in the 12 weeks to 27 December – an increase of £972m compared to the same period last year, according to Kantar data released today.

Diageo introduces health warnings on labels

Published: 16 December, 2020

Diageo has announced that it will introduce a health warning on Smirnoff, Gordon’s Pink, Baileys and Captain Morgan labels in the UK from early 2021.

Master of Malt launches own-label spirits

Published: 16 December, 2020

Master of Malt has unveiled its first own-brand collection spanning blended Scotch whisky, London dry gin, rum and vodka.

Half measures for on-trade groups post lockdown

Published: 14 December, 2020

Around half of Britain’s managed pubs, restaurants and bars were open and trading last week as lockdown ended and the new tier levels came into force in England, but sales were significantly down even in those sites able to open.

The winners: Harpers Design Awards 2020

Published: 07 December, 2020

Each year the entries for Harpers Design Awards deliver much to delight, with the bar raised time and again, and so it proved once more with our 2020 judging. This year delivered many exemplary category winners, along with a host of worthy gold, silver and bronze medals.

SWA backs Mexico-UK spirits accord

Published: 01 December, 2020

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has welcomed the announcement of the Mexico-UK Spirits Agreement.

Bacardi acquires pre-batched cocktails company Tails

Published: 19 November, 2020

Bacardi has acquired pre-batched cocktails company Tails for an undisclosed sum.

Historic whisky up for auction

Published: 18 November, 2020

A bottle of The Macallan 50-year old anniversary malt whisky is to form the centrepiece of Brightwells’ November auction.

Hard seltzers put function over form

Published: 16 November, 2020

The rise of hard seltzers in the US and, increasingly, the UK, is ushering in a new age of high functioning, health-focused drinks, which is comparable to the rise of vaping in the smoking sector. Hugh Jones weighs in.

Brits set to mix up Christmas drink choices

Published: 11 November, 2020

Brits are gearing up to throw out the festive rule book this Christmas with new research showing a shift in festive consumer drinking trends.

BWS supermarket sales rise 15%

Published: 10 November, 2020

Supermarket sales of beer, wines and spirits (BWS) rose 15% in the four weeks to 31 October as the category remained one of the fastest growing ahead of packaged grocery (11%) but behind frozen (16%).

Lousada steps up as CEO at QB

Published: 06 November, 2020

Quintessential Brands (QB) has announced changes for its senior team, with former MD James Lousada stepping up to take the role of CEO.

Caribbean Export looks to unlock UK opportunity

Published: 30 October, 2020

The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) is gearing up to launch its first virtual event to tap increasing thirst for the spirit across Europe, including the UK, as highlighted in a new report release by the body today.

Beale: ‘Supply chain must be eligible for cash grants’

Published: 26 October, 2020

The WSTA has urged the government to clarify that the cash grants promised as a support measure for the hospitality sector applies to the supply chain too.