Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Covid-19 takes the fizz out of the UK sparkling market

Published: 12 August, 2020

The loss of celebratory drinking occasions has put the breaks on an already slowing thirst for sparkling wine in the UK, new research has revealed.

European neighbours offer UK trade signs of post-lockdown optimism

Published: 11 June, 2020

Wine consumption in some of the UK’s nearest neighbouring markets looks to be steady, with consumers maintaining overall wine consumption as lockdowns ease.

"Hammer blow" to on-trade from Covid-19, report predicts

Published: 03 June, 2020

Drinking occasions have "been dealt a hammer blow” a new report into the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on consumer markets has concluded.

2020 Piemonte Report hails ‘last great wine region in the world’

Published: 27 May, 2020

Barolo and Barbaresco lovers have long championed Italy’s finest Nebbiolos, but the wines have remained somewhat under the radar when compared with the attention heaped on the likes of rivals from Tuscany, Burgundy and Bordeaux.

Still wine wins out as UK drinking occasions rise to new heights

Published: 14 May, 2020

The UK’s 28 million wine consumers have found new and more occasions to enjoy their favourite drink, according to new research from Wine Intelligence.

Wine Intelligence updates Global Report post-virus

Published: 30 March, 2020

Wine Intelligence has updated its Global Report post-coronavirus (Covid-19), first launched in January, to highlight both the short and long-term effects the pandemic is likely to have on wine consumption.

Premiumisation arrives in Portugal

Published: 04 March, 2020

Portugal’s wine drinkers have upped their spending significantly over the last two years, according to a new report from Wine Intelligence.

Drinks trade ranks poorly on new sustainability index

Published: 10 February, 2020

The drinks industry is lagging behind other business sectors in its approach to sustainability, according to a new report published today.

Organic wine ‘big winner’ in 2019

Published: 05 February, 2020

Organic wine was the “big category winner” in 2019 as supermarkets cashed in on shoppers’ environmental concerns, according to the Soil Association Certification’s annual Organic Market Report 2020 released today.

Global headwinds hit fine-wine market

Published: 11 December, 2019

Uncertainties in global trade have hit the fine-wine market, according to the 2019 report from Liv-ex, the online global trading platform for wine.

Low and no on-trade sales soar by nearly 50%

Published: 02 December, 2019

Sales of no- and low-alcohol drinks in the on-trade have risen nearly 50% in the last year, according to a new report from food-and-drink sector analysts CGA.

Wines and spirits instrumental in creating the future’s “creative community hubs”

Published: 07 November, 2019

Wine and spirits stores will be at the forefront of community bonding over the next decade, as retail finds new and inventive ways of keeping customers coming back for more.

Entry-level malts lead whisky category to new heights

Published: 23 October, 2019

A raft of innovation has boosted the fortunes and the accessibility of whisk(e)y in the UK, a new report has revealed.

Mini wine bottles and fruit flavoured blends help Broadland’s sales soar to £70m

Published: 16 July, 2019

Broadland Wineries has seen sales jump 11.6% to £70.6m in the 12 months to the end of March 2019 helped by fruit flavoured blends and mini wine bottles.

Falling UK alcohol consumption driving premiumisation, Mintel finds

Published: 11 July, 2019

As many as 20% of UK adults now do not drink alcohol, according to the latest British Lifestyles report from Mintel. At the same time, 47% of those who do drink alcohol have cut back their consumption.

Bordeaux 2018 EP report & Gavin Quinney's Top 100

Published: 09 May, 2019

Gavin Quinney delivers his annual insights and scores (see below) on the Bordeaux 2018 vintage for a year he describes as “extraordinary”.

Gap in recycling offers huge opportunity for brand owners and retailers

Published: 26 March, 2019

Concerns over health and safety are hampering the use of recycled materials in food in drink, new research has suggested.

Smartphones dominate as online retail sales hits new high

Published: 05 March, 2019

In the fast evolving online retail market, sales via smartphone have overtaken both desktop and tablet, and at a time when online grocery retail has reached a new high of £8 billion in the UK.

Thc could replace abv as consumers look to cannabis for an “intoxicating buzz”

Published: 28 February, 2019

Experts have warned that alcoholic drinks is the FMCG category most likely to be under threat from cannabis, which will be at the heart of a “global paradigm shift” over the next decade.

Google searches for Dry January up 35% on last year as Gen Z knuckles down with no and low

Published: 31 January, 2019

Low and no alcohol serves can no longer be seen as “the poor cousin at the back of the bar” a number of industry experts agreed when faced with the question of what to do about the most teetotal generation in living memory.