Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Budget: Chancellor freezes all alcohol duty

Published: 03 March, 2021

Duty on wines, spirits and beers is to be frozen, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced in today’s Budget.

Wine most popular online drinks purchase

Published: 24 February, 2021

Wine has been pinpointed as the most popular e-commerce purchase during the Covid pandemic.

Academic study proves terroir’s influence on whisky

Published: 17 February, 2021

A new academic study has provided “conclusive proof” of terroir’s influence on whisky, potentially paving the way for an Appellation Controlée system for whisky in the same way as wine.

Brexit: Reality bites

Published: 08 February, 2021

The actualities of shipping goods from the EU are beginning to sink in as wine incurs an estimated €200 per shipment, making groupage cost-prohibitive for many. Jo Gilbert calculates the knock-on costs to the trade

US Scotch whisky tariffs “unsustainable” as losses hit £500m

Published: 02 February, 2021

The impact of tariffs on Scotch whisky exports to the US is “unsustainable” as losses for the sector have hit £500m, according to the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).

Absolut follows up 'paper' bottle launch with 60% recycled glass edition

Published: 01 February, 2021

Pernod Ricard’s flagship vodka brand, Absolut, has launched its latest limited-edition bottle made of 60% recycled glass, making it the brand’s most sustainable glass bottle to date.

Worshipful Company of Distillers expands educational initiative

Published: 01 February, 2021

The Worshipful Company of Distillers’ (WCD) has launched a programme of scholarships and bursaries set to benefit more than 100 students over the next three years.

The dark and light of rum

Published: 28 January, 2021

Harpers’ recent consumer tasting panel revealed a category that is yet to emerge from its mixology-focused reputation. But rapidly growing awareness and availability of quality liquid mean it could soon sit on a par with top-level Cognac and whisky. Jo Gilbert gets the 360° view.

Mangrove signs distribution deal with New York Distilling Company

Published: 27 January, 2021

Mangrove has signed a deal as the exclusive UK distributor of New York Distilling Company.

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.