Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

What’s fermenting in the on-trade?

Published: 30 January, 2026

Speaking to somms and restaurant buyers, Oliver Catchpole discovers which wine list trends they think will unfold into the new year.

Bibendum and Matthew Clark unveil their 2026 on-trade predictions

Published: 15 December, 2025

Drinks distributors Bibendum and Matthew Clark (both under the C&C Group umbrella) have unveiled their 2026 predictions for the on-trade – both in terms of overall and wine-specific trends.

Gen Z turning away from Dry Jan

Published: 08 December, 2025

New research from IWSR’s Bevtrac survey can reveal that Gen Z drinkers are showing less interest in ‘monthlong abstinence spells’ such as Dry January and Sober October.

Emergent trends from SWA 2025

Published: 01 October, 2025

The Sommelier Wine Awards (SWA) is more than just a blind wine tasting with medals. The very nature of the competition – on-trade-exclusive wines, judged solely by people who buy wine for hospitality venues – means that it’s also a great chance to get a somms’-eye view of what is happening in the on-trade supply chain.

Debunking the Gen Z moderation myth

Published: 04 August, 2025

Readers of the drinks press would be forgiven for thinking that Gen Z is an ascetic generation, avoiding indulgence at any and all costs. But new research highlights that there is far more nuance to this picture.

Nick Gillett: For the sake of Sake – the UK boom looms

Published: 04 July, 2025

When I was a young and impressionable sales executive I worked for a wine and spirits wholesaler that did booming restaurant trade thanks to its really talented wine team. And during this time, being young and curious, I ended up in more than a few sessions learning about Sake. I’ll be honest – I’ve loved Sake ever since. And in the last few years, we’ve been seeing all the early signs that it’s about to hit the big time here in the UK. But in a category that’s so uniquely entwined with one culture, where flavours and styles can differ so widely, and where the text on the bottle is often written in an alphabet we can’t decipher – where do you even begin? I have a few ideas…

Study shows Gen Z no longer leading moderation charge

Published: 26 June, 2025

The latest Bevtrac survey from ISWR highlights that Gen Z are not rejecting alcohol any more than older consumers, with findings showing in some cases they may even be pushing back against moderation.

South America Report: UK importers have their say

Published: 07 April, 2025

Importers face a fine balancing act heading into 2025, continuing to present a diverse, well-priced portfolio offer while being beset by the cost shocks of duty rises, EPR and National Insurance rises, to name just a few. For specialist importers of South American wine navigating this puzzle can feel notably headache-inducing, particularly because naturally high-abv wines such as Argentinian Malbecs will be harder hit by duty changes. This is a challenge as these wines’ very taste and style can rely upon this higher alcohol content.

Trends show millennials remain vital demographic for wine trade

Published: 24 March, 2025

A suite of consumer trends revealed by the IWSR shows that millennials, those born between 1980 and 1995, remain a key consumer demographic for the wine trade in the years to come.

Indies Survey 2025: uncertainty reigns

Published: 07 March, 2025

As the usual business headwinds seemingly turn to a howling gale, we once again
ask the independent merchants’ sector for their take on what the year ahead holds.

Sparkling and sustainability pave the way at annual Liberty tasting

Published: 22 January, 2025

Sparkling wines and sustainability are at the forefront of Liberty Wines push into the challenging 2025 market in the UK, with Spain also an expected driver of sales.

Nick Gillett: Predictions for 2025 following a turbulent year for spirits

Published: 20 January, 2025

This time of year, is when I must start polishing my crystal ball in the hope I can come up with a few nuggets of prophecy for the spirits industry, for the year ahead. And whilst I’m not Mystic Meg, I foresee the year to come as one of change; a year filled with lofty highs and disappointing lows. The way I see it, 2024 has seen a few big success stories, which have laid the groundwork to enjoy more success in 2025. But 2024 was also a tricky year for many producers, and, with plenty of regulatory and legislative upheaval expected, 2025 does look like it might have a few surprises in store for us. Here are my predictions on what could be, a rollercoaster of a year, for the great British booze industry.

Soho House extends low & no offer as Dry January gets into full swing

Published: 03 January, 2025

The Soho House group has unveiled a new range of non-alcoholic and low ABV cocktails, as UK businesses prepare for a long month of sobriety and abstinence.

Looking Back, Forging Ahead Q&A: Mark Wrigglesworth, The Good Wine Shop

Published: 03 January, 2025

Next up in our end of year trade talking heads is Mark Wrigglesworth, director at The Good Wine Shop, as he reflects on remaining competitive in a challenging environment.

Bibendum predicts top wine trends

Published: 04 December, 2024

Bibendum Wine has outlined a series of consumer trends likely to influence buying behaviour in 2025, compiling data from its ‘Wine MODE’ tool, in addition to analysis from Bidendum's in-house insights team.

New report sheds light 'on the future of consumption'

Published: 29 November, 2024

A new survey by Kantar has delved into the “decisions and circumstances behind three million food and drink occasions across three continents”, revealing a shifting landscape in terms of consumer priorities and dining trends.

Nick Gillett: Why vodka needs to break out of its boring ‘steady Eddie’ box

Published: 19 August, 2024

What do you think of when you hear the word ‘vodka’. Not much, right? Where the word ‘whisky’ evokes images of sipping from a glass next to a roaring fire and ‘rum’ transports you to tropical climates grasping a glass filled with amber liquid on ice – vodka just doesn’t deliver the same dreamy (if clichéd) scenarios. But vodka is estimated to have a global value of $40.25 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 5.6% each year until then (IWSR Vodka Innovation Trends report). So, the category has to be doing something right, surely?

Pemiumisation remains the key driver in on-trade drinks sales

Published: 02 July, 2024

The trend to premium drinking is predicted to continue as consumers continue to drink less but better, according to the latest insights from analyst CGA by NIQ. Moreover, while ‘value-for-money’ remains key, this is about drinks ‘worth the price’, rather than ‘cheap’.

Jerry Lockspeiser: Could this be the next big trend in wine?

Published: 30 April, 2024

On trend Londoners or visitors to the capital may be lucky enough to experience the culinary and vinous delights of a Noble Rot restaurant, of which there are now three. They were birthed from the eponymous Noble Rot Magazine, a pandoras box of wine and food articles that somehow manages to be smoothly accessible, irreverently funny, and slightly nerdy at the same time.