Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Hospitality hit once more by opening delay

Published: 01 July, 2021

The latest extension of Covid-19 rules could see the industry lose a further 300,000 jobs. Lisa Riley reports on the likely outcome of the measures

Mandy Stevens takes chair at AWE

Published: 17 June, 2021

The Association of Wine Educators (AWE) has announced Mandy Stevens as its new chair.

Hospitality under pressure

Published: 14 June, 2021

In a piece written before the government warned of a one-month delay to Covid restrictions lifting, Jacopo Mazzeo takes the temperature of the UK on-trade as staff shortages and restrictions continue to eat into venues’ ability to turn a profit.

Meeting demand: How suppliers have risen to the reopening challenge

Published: 07 June, 2021

The demand from the on-trade has been ‘huge’ following outdoor (12 April) and indoor (17 May) hospitality reopening. Jo Gilbert speaks to some of the UK’s leading suppliers to ask how they’ve managed to keep stock flowing.

LWF: Digital efficiencies helping with the big three – content flow, stock flow, cash flow

Published: 20 May, 2021

A mental shift around harnessing digital capabilities and automation this year has moved businesses towards stock management systems that free up time and capital to focus on sharing information and storytelling with customers.

Digital strategies and synergies continue to rise in importance as businesses physically reopen

Published: 13 May, 2021

Online services continue to grow in importance, key sources have highlighted this week, as online retail sales continue to strengthen despite physical stores reopening, and as digital strategies and e-booking becomes more important than ever for bars and restaurants re-launching to demob-happy crowds.

Govt U-turn on pub lockdown sales

Published: 04 November, 2020

In a U-turn, the government has agreed to allow England’s pubs to sell takeaway alcohol during the national lockdown that begins on Thursday.

The Long Read: How the impulse channel is altering the retail map

Published: 17 September, 2020

Angela Mount reports on the dramatic growth of wine and alcohol sales in both the impulse and Cash & Carry channels.

Berkmann winds up successful Help 4 Hospitality scheme

Published: 11 August, 2020

Berkmann Wine Cellars has called time on its Help 4 Hospitality lockdown initiative, which has raised some £75,000 to help businesses in the hospitality sector weather the crisis.

Registration closing soon on Loire Valley indies promotion

Published: 11 August, 2020

Registration is closing soon for the autumn Loire Valley independent wine merchant promotion, on which Harpers is partnering with Loire Valley Wines.

James Sommerin left ‘devastated’ by restaurant closure as he issues plea to customers

Published: 24 July, 2020

Top chef James Sommerin has spoken about the cruel circumstances surrounding the closure of his family restaurant after the pressures of Covid-19 became too much to bear.

Lanchester goes digital with in-venue ordering platform

Published: 09 July, 2020

Lanchester Wines has unveiled its newest technological innovation – an online order and pay tool to help on-trade venues re-open while observing social distancing rules.

Majestic re-opens across the Channel

Published: 08 July, 2020

Majestic Calais, the French arm of Majestic Wine, has reopened its doors to customers at its superstore over The Channel following the easing of travel restrictions in and out of the UK.

"Impressive" online drinks uplift here to stay

Published: 08 June, 2020

The influx of new online shoppers looks set to be sustainable, with alcoholic drinks to the fore of this growth in ecommerce.

Amathus Drinks invites consumers to Taste Together online

Published: 29 May, 2020

Wine and Spirit importer, distributor and retailer Amathus Drinks is forging head with a range of interactive online tastings to help customers explore far flung corners of the wine world.

Majestic reinstates click and collect from stores

Published: 27 May, 2020

Majestic Wine is allowing customers back to its stores for the first time since lockdown, with orders now available to collect from local stores.

Night trade poses biggest barrier to reopening on-premise

Published: 22 May, 2020

Packed pubs, standing-only bars and heaving nightclubs pose the biggest challenge to getting the struggling on-trade back on its feet, the IWSR has suggested.

On-trade operators should plan ‘relaunch', not ‘reopening’, ahead of 4 July

Published: 21 May, 2020

On-trade operators should “step away from emotion”, challenging themselves to think back to when they started their businesses and consider it a relaunch, not a reopening, when they once again open their doors.