Q&A: Gary Cann, BWS procurement manager, Living Ventures Group

Gary Cann is the buyer at Manchester's leading bar and restaurant operator and he talks about drinks trends and the challenges of meeting these as an expanding on-trade group

Analysis: Conviviality brings Matthew Clark business into the fold

The impact of Conviviality's acquisition of Matthew Clark is just beginning to be felt as it renegotiates with suppliers

The rise of the Drink's Consultant

Smaller drinks lists, coupled with the trend towards more casual dining, is favouring consultants over sommeliers

Insights: Independents best poised to gain if value can be returned to wine category

With supermarkets retrenching, independents stand to gain if value can be returned to the wine category

Q&A: Andreas Clark, CEO, Wine Australia

Wine Australia's chief executive officer Andreas Clark at this week's London Australia Day Tasting discusses the challenges facing the UK market

Insights: Retailers look back on the Christmas trading period

On the back of the Christmas and new year trading period, Harpers asks suppliers and merchants how Christmas was for them and what they expect looking ahead.

Andrew Catchpole: A promising year for the wine trade

Consumer confidence - and spend - is on the up, a stronger pound is easing the path for UK buyers, and time has seemingly been called by the multiples on an era of heavy discounting, with range cuts also playing into the hands of adventurous independents selling on the contrasting breadth of their portfolio.

Analysis: Trade optimism lifts following festive trading

Consumer confidence is generally on the up and early indications suggest that Christmas delivered a welcome boost to the trade.

Scottish minimum unit pricing for alcohol hangs in balance against EU free trade laws

The European Court of Justice has ruled that the Scottish Government's case for minimum unit pricing [MUP] for alcohol could be in breach of free trade laws if tax-based measures could deliver a fairer and equally effective result with regard to protecting public health.

New Gadget: iSommelier- the oxygenation decanting device

Decanting may soon become an act of minutes rather than hours and be controlled by an app on your phone.

Insights: What wine trends will be driving this year's festive period

et the planning, stock, marketing and sales mix right and Christmas should deliver a bumper season, with a sales uplift over the extended period that, for many, can come close to matching the take for the rest of the year. Conversely, though, at its most extreme, depressed or underperforming, Christmas trading can seriously impact on the ongoing health of a business. Which is why it is so important to make the most of this seasonal drinkfest.

Spain Supplement: Digesting Spain's wine evolution

Fenavin wine fair has positioned itself as a gateway to Spanish diversity

Having emerged as Spain's pre-eminent wine fair, Fenavin has positioned itself as a gateway to Spanish diversity as well as value. 

Are there etichal implications to consider when choosing to bottle wine in the UK?

Harpers led a debate at last month's London Wine Fair to expose the myths and preconceptions about UK bottling, which raised questions about the ethics of the practice.

Wines of Germany | The New Face of Germany

supplThe upshot can be seen - or rather tasted - in the fantastic selection of Top 50 wines on these pages, wines that represent the whole panoply of German winemaking, from the traditional to the modern, representing a superb snapshot of all that is going on.

France needs to do better at selling itself hears French Wines Discovery tasting

France needs to better communicate its enviable attributes, according to a Harpers trade debate held at this week's French Wines Discoveries fair in London.

How Berlin Tastings Series put Chilean wine on the map

Eduardo Chadwick's pioneering Berlin Series Tastings have helped change global perception of Chilean wine in their 10-year run. Andrew Catchpole, who was at the seminal first event, assesses their impact

Own-label wine is not just for major multiples any longer

Own-label and private-label wines are no longer the preserve of the major multiples, but what is the attraction for independent merchants and restaurants alike?

How growth in tapas is driving consumer understanding of Spanish wine

UK consumers are just discovering that Spain's wine regions offer as much diversity, quality and value as its tapas. Andrew Catchpole reports

Spain: food for thought

The UK is just discovering that Spain's wine regions offer as much diversity, quality and value as its tapas. Andrew Catchpole reports