Looking back on a decade - Part one

2010-2020 delivered incredible change on both a domestic and an international level. The Harpers team peers back at some of the key stories that continue to shape today’s trade

WSTA reiterates call for duty cut

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has reiterated its call for a cut in duty.    

Christmas trading: glass half full?

Retailers had to fight hard for their share of mistletoe and wine (and gin) sales this Christmas. Jo Gilbert sorts through the highs and lows.

Former Blue Peter presenter jumps ship to head up Mangrove marketing

Vinexpo and Comexposium join forces

Leading global wine event organisations Vinexpo and Comexposium are to join forces in a new body.

Wine’s darker materials: glass vs the alternatives

A rising clamour over packaging and sustainability is leading many parts of the industry to go back to the drawing board on glass and look at alternative materials. Does plastic deserve its bad reputation?

Mangrove appoints on-trade sales director

Mangrove UK has promoted its current South sales manager Chris Pollard to on-trade sales director.

Brockmans appoints former Jägermeister executive as MD

English gin producer Brockmans has appointed former Mast-Jägermeister and Russian Standard Vodka executive Guy Lawrence to the newly created role of MD as part of its ambitious plans to double sale in five years.

Hillebrand acquires US warehouse and transportation business

Hillebrand has acquired US warehouse and transportation business Royal Logistics and Royal Service Transport (Royal) for an undisclosed sum.

Spotlight on 2020: Hugh Sturges, Jeroboams

As we prepare for the new decade, Harpers will be taking the month of December to look back over 2019 and ahead to what the coming year will bring – hopefully full of revived optimism for both politics and the trade.

Spotlight on 2020: Alex Hunt MW, Berkmann Wine Cellars

As we enter a new decade, Harpers look back over 2019 and ahead to what the coming year will bring – hopefully full of revived optimism for both politics and the trade.

The winners: Harpers Design Awards 2019

The big reveal from this year’s Harpers Design Awards is that for the first time ever wine edged ahead of spirits, both in terms of the overall winners and collectively across the competition.

Independents: Collaborate to innovate

Teaming up to bring in ad hoc shipments is ushering in a new wave of collaboration between like-minded independents. Chris Wilson weighs the practicalities and benefits

New interactive 'Instagram-able' bar ordering app launches

A new 'Instagram-able' interactive bar ordering app bridging the digital and physical worlds has been unveiled by Cambridge Consultants.

WSET unveils Outstanding Alumni Award nominees

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has announced the five nominees for its 2019 Outstanding Alumni Award.

Government hit by fall in wine-duty revenues

Wine duty receipts fell back 2.1% in the first six months of the financial year, according to data released by the government.

Diageo launches ‘AI selector’ to help people find their perfect single malt

Diageo has launched a digital experience that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies in a bid to help people to find their perfect single malt Scotch whisky based on their preferences for certain flavours.

Casual Dining turns focus on wine with new dedicated area

The Casual Dining show is gearing up to launch a dedicated wine area as part of a bigger overall focus on alcoholic drinks.

Pernod Ricard partnership to bring Baijiu to the international market

Baijiu, China’s most popular and deeply historic spirit, could be making its way to the UK thanks to a new partnership with French giant Pernod Ricard.

Gin: Ascending the throne

It’s been on the cards for some time. Back in 2014, there were rumblings that gin was poised to overtake vodka as the UK’s spirit of choice in time for the new decade.