Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Waitrose expands bulk buying team

Published: 19 January, 2022

The UK's leading supermarket retailer of premium wines has appointed Barry Dick MW to its BWS bulk buying team.

Time to act as alcohol duty review consultation deadline looms

Published: 18 January, 2022

Calls for the drinks trade to voice its concerns over the government’s alcohol duty review have ramped up as the consultation period nears its close on 30 January, potentially adding a £220 million additional tax burden on wine.

Berry Bros. & Rudd releases Christmas trading results

Published: 12 January, 2022

Berry Bros. & Rudd (BBR) has unveiled its fourth quarter financial data for 2021, showing a notable surge in online sales and a burgeoning consumer demand for sparkling wine brands.

WSET appoints Brampton as new CEO

Published: 11 January, 2022

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has appointed Michelle Brampton as its new CEO, replacing the incumbent Ian Harris, who will step down on 15 April.

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.

30 Under 30: The drinks trade’s future leaders

Published: 15 December, 2021

Harpers is launching 30 Under 30, a brand new list highlighting the top young talent blazing a trail in wines and spirits. Self-nominate or nominate a colleague now to be in the running and to help us celebrate the rising stars working in our trade.

Bouncing Back Q&A: David Gates, CEO, Laithwaites

Published: 13 December, 2021

Continuing our seasonal Bouncing Back Q&A series, David Gates, CEO, Laithwaites takes stock of the challenges and lessons of 2021 and considers the path ahead for the trade.

Harpers Design Awards 2021 – The Winners

Published: 13 December, 2021

People buy with their eyes and clever design can also deliver strong cues as to what will be in the bottle, conveying clear messages that help bridge the gap between consumer and producer, as Andrew Catchpole reports from this year’s Harpers Design Awards.

Indies: Sustainable steps

Published: 10 December, 2021

With sustainability roaring back to the top of the agenda, Harpers surveyed the indie sector to discover what demonstrable initiatives, innovations and actions leading merchants have implemented on their green journey.

Bouncing Back Q&A: Sam Thackeray, MD, Enotria & Coe

Published: 08 December, 2021

Continuing our seasonal Bouncing Back Q&A series, Sam Thackery of Enotria & Coe takes stock of the challenges and lessons of 2021 and considers the path ahead for the trade.

UK food & drink businesses ‘behind’ on climate change targets, says WRAP research

Published: 01 November, 2021

Just under two-thirds (63%) of UK consumers want businesses to take immediate action to tackle climate change, a new national survey commissioned by sustainability charity WRAP has showed.

González Byass named ‘Best Spanish Winery of the Decade’

Published: 28 October, 2021

González Byass has become the “Best Spanish Winery of the Decade” according to a Spanish Association of Journalists and Writers.

Duty reforms: What’s the cost for wine and spirits?

Published: 28 October, 2021

Chancellor Rishi Sunak revealed plans to simplify the current alcohol duty regime during yesterday’s Budget, when it was revealed that the Treasury would be adopting a new principle of “the stronger the drink, the higher the rate”.

Hermitage launches new spirits and liqueur agency

Published: 19 October, 2021

Hermitage, the premium Cognac importer and bottler, has launched Bunch & Bushel bunchandbushel.com, a trade arm bringing a wider range of spirits to the market.

31Dover to embrace pioneering low-carbon distribution technology

Published: 14 September, 2021

Independent supplier 31Dover will start to distribute spirit brands using an innovative distribution system that nearly eliminates packaging waste in the supply chain.

UK’s 50 Best Indies 2021: The Top 10

Published: 09 September, 2021

Welcome to the final release instalment of our UK’s 50 Best Indies 2021, featuring the chart-topping Top 10, along with all of those that have made it into the ranking this year.

Online BWS sales buck downward trend

Published: 08 September, 2021

New data has revealed that turnover from UK online retail slumped in the month of August, with three notable exceptions.

Q&A: Patrick Venning, The Brixton Distillery Company

Published: 31 August, 2021

On the first anniversary of former Pernod Ricard executives Patrick Venning and Laurent Lacassagne’s creation of Market Row Botanical Rum, Andrew Catchpole meets Venning at their Brixton-based distillery to find out how their novel approach to the category is going.

Berry Bros unveils Nordic Casks whisky range

Published: 25 August, 2021

Berry Bros & Rudd has launched a Nordic Casks whisky series, marking the first time an independent bottler has focussed on this whisky region, according to the business.

BWS grocery sales decline 6%

Published: 24 August, 2021

Beer, wine and spirits (BWS) sales through supermarkets continued to slide in the four weeks ending 14 August 2021, down 6% compared with the same period last year, according to Total Till data from NielsenIQ released today.