Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Italy Report: The shifting perception of Prosecco

Published: 23 July, 2025

Prosecco has long made life easy for wine drinkers: it hits the right price point, rolls off the tongue and is effortlessly quaffable. Between 2018 and 2019, exports of both DOC and DOCG styles to the UK doubled, and its popularity seemed all but untouchable. Yet, having stolen much of Cava’s thunder, sales of Italy’s flagship sparkler have reportedly stalled in the independent sector. But is Prosecco merely another casualty of the global downturn – or is something more dramatic unfolding?

The intriguing potential of indie loyalty schemes

Published: 02 July, 2025

“You don’t earn loyalty in a day. You earn loyalty day by day,” counselled US marketing guru and author Jeffrey Gitomer. Yet despite the clear advantages, customer loyalty schemes – ubiquitous across many retail sectors – remain an underused resource among UK independents. The question is, why?

Looking Back, Forging Ahead Q&A: Phil Innes, Loki Wines

Published: 12 December, 2022

Following another turbulent year for the drinks trade, Phil Innes, founder and MD of Loki Wines, reflects on the highs and lows of 2022, plus the hopes and plans for the business in the year ahead.