Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

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.

Berkmann launches new scheme to support hospitality sector

Published: 02 April, 2020

Berkmann Wine Cellars has launched a new online platform to raise funds for the hospitality sector through consumer sales.

Bibendum and Matthew Clark launch new app to help virus-hit on-trade

Published: 31 March, 2020

Bibendum and Matthew Clark has introduced a new app aimed at helping the virus-hit on-trade.

Quintessential adds two to senior team

Published: 11 February, 2020

International spirits producer Quintessential Brands has strengthened its management team with two senior hires.

Spotlight on 2020: David Gleave, Liberty Wines

Published: 16 December, 2019

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.

Hillebrand launches eco-friendly 40ft flexitank

Published: 10 December, 2019

Hillebrand has unveiled a new 40ft flexitank that can sustainably transport non-hazardous liquids worldwide in temperature-controlled conditions.

Spotlight on 2020: Michael Saunders, Bibendum Wine

Published: 04 December, 2019

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.

Specialist Indies talk shop and more...

Published: 13 November, 2019

Independent wine merchants are specialist retailers in their own right offering a service, range and expertise that more general retailers, such as grocers, will always struggle to match.

My perfect customer: Chris Laidler, Covino

Published: 16 October, 2019

Chester's Covino is a stylish independent wine shop, wine bar and small-plate restaurant boasting over 100 artisan wines. Owner and manager Chris Laidler shares his secrets to attracting new customers and keeping his existing crowd happy.