Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

US number one hard seltzer brand sets it sights on UK domination

Published: 15 May, 2020

White Claw, the brand which has ignited a seltzer storm in the US, is now looking to replicate its success across the pond.

Premium drinking habits in the firing line amid economic shutdown

Published: 24 March, 2020

The ‘less but better’ mantra adopted by the trade over the past decade could be facing an existential threat, an industry expert has warned, as the coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic hits the reset button on drinking habits.

Familia Torres launches ancestral winegrowing project

Published: 17 March, 2020

Family-owned winery Familia Torres has kicked off the latest stage of on an ongoing growing project in Alts d'Ancosa in the Penedès, where it will be planting historic local variety, Forcada.

Desperate times for bars and restaurants facing “short-term cashflow catastrophe” as footfall plummets 50%

Published: 16 March, 2020

Pressure is being piled on chancellor Rishi Sunak to introduce emergency measures to stem the knock on effect of coronavirus (Covid-19) as footfall to UK businesses fell by almost 50% over the weekend.

WSTA in pan UK-EU talks to ensure GIs protected post Brexit

Published: 13 March, 2020

By January 2021, when Brexit comes into force, WSTA, the UK’s drinks lobby group, will no longer be a member of the pan-European wine trade body, CEEV. But ahead of further UK-EU trade talks, the two bodies are uniting once more to lobby for the continued smooth trade of wine across the English Channel.

Hardys focuses new branding around “certainty in uncertain times”

Published: 06 March, 2020

Hardys has unveiled a new look for its global branding while also offering customers a 100% money back guarantee with the aim of becoming “a top 10 global power brand by 2025”.

UK pub numbers on the rise again

Published: 11 December, 2019

The number of British pubs has increased for the first time in a decade, analysis from hospitality sector software start-up Stampede has revealed.

Shoppers prize green values over brand loyalty, research shows

Published: 02 December, 2019

Over three-quarters of UK grocery buyers have made buying decisions based on a brand’s environmental policies in the last year, new research from data insights consultancy Kantar has revealed.

Nero d’Avola named Britain’s favourite wine

Published: 29 November, 2019

Sicilian red Nero d’Avola came out on top in a mass blind tasting at Majestic stores across the UK.

Speciality Brands signs distribution deal for Beluga

Published: 20 November, 2019

Speciality Brands has signed a deal as the exclusive UK distributor for vodka brand Beluga.

Berkmann hedges against Brexit Christmas chaos

Published: 14 October, 2019

UK distributor Berkmann Wine Cellars has invested £5m in increased stocks and storage capacity at bond in the run-up to Christmas.

MPs demand government action on US Scotch tariffs

Published: 08 October, 2019

Scottish MPs have demanded that Boris Johnson speaks directly to US president Donald Trump to avert the imposition of 25% import tariffs on Scotch.

Italian wine poised for big growth on Liv-Ex

Published: 26 September, 2019

The price of Italian wine on the secondary market still lags behind its critical reputation, according to a new report from fine-wine trading platform Liv-Ex. But that could be changing.

English sparkling encouraged to tap into “moderation, local, and craft” as sales dip

Published: 28 August, 2019

A new report has suggested that English sparkling wine ticks all the right boxes to help reverse something of a slump in sales of sparkling wine over the past year – the first time this has happened in a decade.

Profits up at TWE as premiumisation drive pays off

Published: 15 August, 2019

Profits at Treasury Wine Estates leapt 16% over the last year, driven by the group’s focus on premiumisation.

Jerry Lockspeiser: Damned if we do, damned if we don’t

Published: 26 July, 2019

Over breakfast in a lovely B&B in Corbridge, an ideal overnight stop before the last leg of our cycling trip along Hadrian’s Wall, the conversation turned to alcohol consumption in Scotland. One of our group, Paul, a qualified doctor and psychiatrist, was expounding the virtues of Minimum Unit Pricing as a weapon to fight the scourge of alcohol abuse amongst the Scottish poor.

LWF: Consumers value experiences over value for money, says CGA

Published: 21 May, 2019

There has been a major shift in the way consumers decide which venues to visit, with the promise of entertainment and engagement now taking precedent over value for money.

Climate change leaving Beaujolais in fear of being priced out of the market by cereal and milk

Published: 11 March, 2019

The temperature is rising in Beaujolais, leaving producers to worry their products will be edged out of consumers’ repertoires by rival crops.

Carluccio’s boss calls out casual dining operators for aggressive expansion plans

Published: 04 March, 2019

Carluccio’s CEO has criticised the UK restaurant sector for focusing on “capex-heavy investments” – the same focus which almost brought the chain to brink of collapse last year.