Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

WSET appoints first dedicated on-territory US team

Published: 05 December, 2017

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has appointed its first dedicated on-territory team for the US wine and spirits market.

Berry Bros & Rudd ups stake in Anchor Distilling Company

Published: 05 December, 2017

Berry Bros & Rudd has increased its shareholding stake of Anchor Distilling Company (ADC).

Mezcal and English sparkling tipped as the top tipples for 2018

Published: 24 November, 2017

Rising popularity of premium Languedoc Rousillion, Tequila and Mezcal as well as soaring sales of English sparkling have puts these tipples at the head of the race to be named some of the top trends for 2018.

Connecting with Generation Z

Published: 24 November, 2017

A new generation coming up behind the Millennials is presenting new challenges to the drinks trade. Andrew Catchpole reports from the Global Drinks Forum in Berlin

UKs first Cognac Show launched by Whisky Exchange

Published: 22 November, 2017

The UK’s first ever Cognac Show tasting will take place next April 2018, Harpers can reveal.

Crown Cellars push to highlight spirits portfolio with Thinking Drinkers

Published: 22 November, 2017

In response to what it describes as “massive changes” in the market, Carlsberg’s wine division Crown Cellars has teamed up with the Thinking Drinkers to bring its premium spirits portfolio to greater prominence alongside its wines with the launch of Spirits.

Chancellor Philip Hammond labelled “scrooge”

Published: 21 November, 2017

Philip Hammond is being labelled a “scrooge” after it was revealed he will be one of the worst Chancellors to tax the wine and spirit sector if he pursues the planned increase in the Budget tomorrow (Wednesday, 22 November).

Vindependents sets date for spirits launch

Published: 16 November, 2017

Vindependents has confirmed it will start importing spirits to the UK for the first time from January 2018.

Small Cognac producers raise the spirit to a new audience

Published: 16 November, 2017

A new generation of Cognac producers has raised the double-distilled spirit to a new audience in the UK, providing the on-trade and independent wine merchants with a fresh alternative to the handful of big brands that dominate the buoyant global cognac market.

Global Drinks Forum: a taste of future on-trade trends

Published: 13 November, 2017

Immersive experiences, category blur and premium drinks were hot topics at the recent Global Drinks Forum in Berlin, where the trends shaping the on-trade were put under the spotlight.

Former Matthew Clark director and Hammonds launch drinks agency

Published: 08 November, 2017

Chris Jones, former commercial director of Matthew Clark’s brands distribution business, has joined forces with wholesaler Hammonds of Knutsford to launch a UK drinks agency with the aim of uniting bars and brands that “dare to be different”.

Fever-Tree anticipates FY results to be ‘materially’ ahead

Published: 07 November, 2017

Fever-Tree has anticipated that its full year results for the year ending 31 December, 2017 will be “materially ahead” of current market expectations.

LWC Drinks acquires HT White & Co

Published: 02 November, 2017

Southern-based wholesaler LWC Drinks has confirmed it is in the process of acquiring HT White & Co of Eastbourne.

Echo Falls launches vodka to replicate success of Fruit Fusions in spirits aisle

Published: 01 November, 2017

Accolade Wines has expanded its Echo Falls brand with a flavoured vodka, marking the wine brand’s first foray into spirits.

Litmus Wines expands international trail for Ginking

Published: 26 October, 2017

Litmus Wines has expanded the international reach of its hybrid wine and gin Ginking brand to Switzerland just a year after launch.

EU and UK wines and spirits chiefs launch joint Brexit proposition paper

Published: 19 October, 2017

European and UK bodies responsible for the wider wine and spirit industry have joined together to publish a joint position paper to outline their stance on Brexit.

WSTA warns of further hefty price hikes if duty is not frozen

Published: 16 October, 2017

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has warned of further wine and spirit price hikes if the Chancellor fails to freeze duty in the November Budget.

Berlin bar show breaks records ahead of NYC launch

Published: 13 October, 2017

As a barometer of the spirits and cocktail world, this week’s edition of Bar Convent Berlin revealed a sector in rude health, with record numbers of visitor and exhibitors attending a heavily over-subscribed event.