Euromonitor reveals the key global consumer trends for 2014

The increased blurring between online and offline shopping, turning social media followers into buyers and the growing importance of ethical, green and community needs when making purchasing decisions are some of the key conclusions in a major study of consumer trends for 2014 from Euromonitor, the research specialists.

Euromonitor: Top 10 Global Consumer Trends for 2014

Get on top of the key changes in consumer needs and behaviour with exclusive access to Euromonitor's new Top 10 Global Consumer Trends for 2014 by Daphne Kasriel-Alexander.

Direct Wines on course to hit annual sales target after strong Christmas performance

Direct Wines is on course to hit its annual financial targets after a strong Christmas performance, particularly online, according to group chief executive, Simon McMurtrie.

Mark Fiddes on a New Year Resolution we can all keep: fighting prostate cancer

Casa Silva produces first wine from Chile's most southern wine region

Casa Silva has produced the first wine from what it claims is Chile's southern most wine region in the region of Chilean Patagonia some 350km from Bio Bio the previous most southern area capable of growing wine in the country.  

Olivier Krug talks to Giles Falllowfield about ID codes and keeping "Krugists" happy

I know his travel schedules are hectic but four continents in the space of one week seems excessive, even for him. In London, partly to see the pop-up Krug Kreperie in Covent Garden central market run in conjunction with Pierre Koffman, Olivier Krug is on a similarly lightening trip here after recent spells in Australia, Singapore, Canada and the USA. "I prefer quick visits where I can see lots of people in a short time as this means fewer days away from Champagne," says Krug.

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Windsor 2014 attracts key players with collective buying power of over £222m

Up to two thirds of the buyers signed up for the Windsor 2014 Wine Buyers' Forum are from the independent on and off-trade sectors whilst the collective buying power of all the buyers attending is now over £222m.

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Drinks industry takes its case to Westminster and urges MPs to Call Time on Duty

MPs from all parties came to talk to key figures of the wine and spirits industry last night at a special House of Commons event to publicise the Call Time On Duty campaign to try and get the Chancellor to freeze the alcohol duty escalator in the 2014 Budget.

Rolling update: Key drinks figures tell MPs about the damage duty increases have on UK businesses

Leading figures from across the UK wine and spirits industry joined the trade lobby that took the Call Time On Duty campaign to MPs at the House of Commons last night.

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Geoffrey Dean on how Australia's future could well be Orange

When Stephen Doyle, the renowned winemaker at Bloodwood in the Orange region of New South Wales, received a complementary message purportedly from an England cricket team official in early January, he was not sure if it was genuine. An avid cricket fan, Doyle sent a witty response, writing that his wine's "deceptively spicy aromatic movement through the air is likely to bowl you sweetly over". He was pleased to hear from your Harpers correspondent that the individual in question, Colin Gibson, is indeed the ECB's director of communications. 

Dirty Bones brings premium hot dog dining to London's Kensington

The premium hot dog craze that hit the streets of London in 2013 looks set to continue into 2014 with the opening today of Dirty Bones in Kensington that offers street food with a difference - a "secret" restaurant inside offering high quality cocktails and wines to accompany a traditional hot dog stand during the day.

Douglas Blyde talks to Benoît Liébus about life as sommelier at Crillon le Brave, Provence

Beno&icirct Liébus, chess fan and fast driver, is sommelier at Crillon le Brave, Provence. Crouching at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail mountains among the Ventoux's vineyards, the Relais & Châteaux property opened 25 years ago, a cluster of derelict buildings converted into bedrooms.

Boodles Gin hits the UK with multiple and premium on-trade listings

Chris Porter to visit all 91 football league grounds to raise money for The Benevolent

Chris Porter, chairman of the drinks charity, The Benevolent, is to set out on a fundraising attempt to visit all 91 football league league by using a combination of train, tram and bike.

Richard Siddle: how we can all play our part and Call Time on Duty

Come the end of the second week of January you have probably had your fill of end of year reviews and predictions for 2014. But if you have not already can I urge you to check out the series of 2 Good, 2 Bad memories for 2013 and 2 Hopes and Fears we ran from a number of key trade figures on Harpers.co.uk during the festive period (see related articles).

Richard Foster on why we should all work to save the great British pub

The inexorable decline of pubs throughout the UK is a much-covered story in both the trade press and in the wider media. But despite the efforts of the likes of CAMRA's Save Our Pubs campaign there seems to be very little that can be done to halt the erosion of an institution that is so admired elsewhere but generally neglected at home. And whilst 4,000 pubs will close this year, the number of new restaurants / gastropubs is still rising. Some would argue that this sharp dichotomy is a reflection of changing consumer habits, which to a certain extent it is, but there is a need to draw breath and consider the future of the pub before it becomes a quirky, old-fashioned rarity.

?Glenmorangie releases Companta Private Edition Whisky

Glenmorangie has released its fifth annual private edition label called Companta, which has been aged in Grand Cru and Côtes du Rhône casks.