Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Majestic launches first own-label range under Definition umbrella

Published: 11 September, 2015

Majestic has launched its first own-label range of wines.

Naked launches Text For Wine ordering service

Published: 24 August, 2015

Majestic's Naked Wines subsidiary has launched a text message ordering service for customers.

Analysis: Ayo Akintola talks about Oddbins' digital growth strategy and poaching Naked Wines' staff

Published: 15 July, 2015

Oddbins boss Ayo Akintola talks to Rosie Davenport about his growth strategy and why trying to poach Naked Wines' staff is fair game

Majestic asking investors for 'a lot of faith' - City analyst

Published: 16 June, 2015

A city analyst has said yesterday's year-end profits announcement by Majestic Wine has left investors being asked to "display a lot of faith" as the company looks to get back on track.

London to get smaller format Majestics as Gormley tests ways to get chain back on track

Published: 15 June, 2015

New Majestic Wine boss Rowan Gormley has spelled out his vision for the future of the company in a bid to return the company to profit growth.

Majestic appoints Anita Balchandani

Published: 08 June, 2015

Majestic has appointed Anita Balchandani as a non-executive director with effect from June 10.Anita Balchandani, 41, is a partner and sector head of UK retail practice for international consultancy firm OC&C Strategy.

Naked Wines Australian head appointed chief executive of UK and US businesses

Published: 14 May, 2015

Naked Wines has appointed the chief executive of its Australian business, Luke Jecks to head up its UK and US businesses.

Interview: Majestic's new boss Rowan Gormley and Naked's Eamon FitzGerald on the company's new era

Published: 11 May, 2015

Majestic's new chief executive Rowan Gormley and Naked's managing director Eamon FitzGerald talk about the future of the new company.

Chief of the Week: Rowan Gormley, new ceo of Majestic Wines

Published: 17 April, 2015

Today we raise a glass to Rowan Gormley one of the key players behind the £70 million acquisition of Naked Wines by Majestic and the new chief executive of the larger Majestic Wines group.

Analysis: Majestic's acquisition of Naked Wines

Published: 10 April, 2015

Majestic Wines' acquisition of Naked Wines, and the appointment of Rowan Gormley as its new chief executive, will see the launch of a new international multi-channel wine retailing group.

Majestic Wines acquires Naked Wines and names Rowan Gormley chief executive

Published: 10 April, 2015

Majestic Wines has bought Naked Wines for £70 million and named Rowan Gormley chief executive officer of the new combined group.

Shifting retail landscape likely to benefit independents, Wilson says

Published: 05 March, 2015

Shifts expected in the off-trade over the next 12 months are likely to create a "huge opportunity" for independent merchants, according to Tim Wilson of the Wilson Drinks Report.

Majestic Wine chief Steve Lewis steps down

Published: 19 February, 2015

Majestic Wine's chief executive Steve Lewis is leaving the retailer with immediate effect, on the back of poor festive sales.

Top British importers and merchants unite to call for better prices from Bordeaux

Published: 23 January, 2015

Some of the biggest wine importers, distributors, brokers and retailers in the country, including Majestic, Berry Bros & Rudd and Farr Vintners, have written to Bordeaux producers to demand changes in pricing of wines being offered to the UK.

Pub and restaurant groups grow Christmas trading 2.8%

Published: 15 January, 2015

Pub and restaurant groups across the country enjoyed a festive trading boost of 2.8% on the same period last year, with those inside London putting in a stronger performance.

Up to 95% of suppliers demand retailers change the way they work with them

Published: 09 January, 2015

Up to 95% of the 200 suppliers who took part in our survey into the behaviour of major UK retailers want them to change. Here Gemma McKenna reveals what suppliers really think of the big multiples

Tesco is worst retailer to work with say wine and spirits suppliers in Harpers poll

Published: 09 January, 2015

Tesco has been named and shamed as the worst retailer to work with in a survey of over 200 wine and spirits suppliers carried out by Harpers.co.uk.

Major wine retailers boast mixed fortunes over Christmas

Published: 07 January, 2015

Majestic Wine saw sales creep up 1.1% over a "difficult Christmas" while Waitrose celebrated a bumper 15.4% increase in BWS sales over the same period last year.

Drinks suppliers: Last chance to rate major retailers in our survey

Published: 23 December, 2014

2014 saw the drinks supply sector rocked by news of Tesco's accounting practices, and the subsequent suspension of the supermarket's BWS chief brought the scandal closer to home. We would like to find out how suppliers rate retailers across the board.