Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

The return of the wets

Published: 19 August, 2019

Investor interest is returning to the high street, particularly when it comes to wet-led venues, where optimism is on the rise.

Wine revealed as Britain’s favourite alcoholic drink

Published: 12 August, 2019

Wine has beaten beer and spirits to become the favoured tipple of UK drinkers, according to a new survey of 2,000 consumers from Yougov.

Looking ahead: Simon Cairns, BWS category trading manager, Co-op

Published: 07 August, 2019

As the first half of 2019 draws to a close, Harpers asked key trade figures to highlight the current challenges, ongoing trends and opportunities

In store rationalisation means consumers are seeking out diversity online

Published: 06 June, 2019

Wine is the most frequently purchased alcoholic beverage online, it has been revealed, as consumers increasingly turn to the web to seek out the product diversity that’s been lost from the high street.

Online BWS sales grow ahead of market

Published: 24 April, 2019

The beer, wine and spirits (BWS) category recorded 9.6% growth in online sales last month compared to March 2018.

The Bottle Shop goes under

Published: 26 March, 2019

The Bottle Shop has called in the administrators and shut the business with immediate effect following a tough few months.

Food and drink exports growth slows to crawl but gin and whisky fly the flag

Published: 25 March, 2019

Overall UK food and drinks exports slowed to a crawl in 2018, but gin and whisky continued to fly the flag – each growing in both value and volume.

Enotria opens up craft beer following major deals with Compass and Bidfood

Published: 07 February, 2019

Craft beer was one of the star attractions at Enotria’s latest annual portfolio tasting, as the pressure to diversify becomes stronger and stronger at the top level of distribution.

Eden Mill snaps up Eden River to expand production

Published: 04 February, 2019

Eden Mill, Scotland’s first single site brewery and distillery, has targeted further expansion after acquiring Eden River Brewery in Penrith, Cumbria, for an undisclosed amount.

Teetotal for a year: why waking up to low and no is the trade's biggest challenge

Published: 30 January, 2019

The driest month of the year is almost over. But as the trend for drinking less but better – or not at all – continues into 2019, many consumers will be planning to moderate well into February and beyond. Changing drinking habits is something we can no longer ignore, says Hugh Jones, former prestige sale manager at Mentzendorff and now head of sales at Lucky Saint, which produces a 0.5% beer. Reporting for Harpers, Jones explains why he has vowed to go teetotal for a year with the aim of exploring what trade needs to do to stay relevant – while also making the most of the opportunities in the ever-evolving drinks industry.

BWS enjoys strong festive build up as general grocery sales slump

Published: 08 January, 2019

Shoppers visited supermarkets more often in the run up to Christmas, but sales slumped to half the level of growth returned last year, according to Nielsen.

Matthew Clark announces Black Friday sale

Published: 19 November, 2018

Matthew Clark has announced it will be taking part in Black Friday again this year with a 24-hour sale including big discounts on leading brands such as Absolut, Belvedere, Bombay Sapphire, Disaronno, Peroni and Tanqueray.

Europe ups its craft game as new leader of NPD

Published: 06 November, 2018

Europe is reclaiming its reputation as the hub of the beer world as it overtakes the US as the biggest driver of NPD in the craft segment. Jo Gilbert looks at the re-emergence of the world’s oldest beer market.

Duty frozen for spirits, cider and beer, but wine will rise with inflation

Published: 29 October, 2018

Investing in Britain’s future was one of the anthems that ran through Philip Hammond’s autumn Budget speech this afternoon.

Demand for craft spirits in the US shows no sign of slowing

Published: 24 October, 2018

The appetite for craft spirits in the United States - arguably the nation behind the boom in craft drinks worldwide - still packs a major punch new research suggests.

Molson Coors chases the buzz with joint marijuana venture

Published: 02 August, 2018

Molson Coors is the latest mega-brewer to announce plans to make hybrid beverages with one of Canada’s leading cannabis producers, further signalling the march of smoke products into the alcoholic sector.

Beer and pink gin help fuel rise in Diageo GB Sales

Published: 26 July, 2018

Diageo has seen its annual GB sales rise by 8% helped by its core gin and beer offering and ‘innovative’ NPD including pink gin.

Chapel Down’s brewery arm enters the on-trade with new brew

Published: 28 June, 2018

Curious Brewery, owned by English winemaker Chapel Down, has added a second edition to its Curiouser & Curiouser portfolio – the first of its brews that will be available in the on-trade.

Bibendum and Matthew Clark owner C&C Group reports drop in profit

Published: 16 May, 2018

C&C Group has reported a drop in full-year net revenue and profit with sales hit by severe weather in the second half.

Industry asked: how much drink is too much?

Published: 27 April, 2018

How much is too much? Are new rules needed to stop drinks brands implying their products can improve mood? Does the industry still use sexist imagery to advertise drinks?