Wine merchants celebrate national Independents' Day with sales boosts of up to 30%

Independent wine merchants are going from strength to strength in the UK, with a straw poll showing sales up by between 20% and 30%.

The week that was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have done a review of the top online news, Q&As, and opinion stories.

Leading independents hit out at major wine suppliers for their "lazy" service

Leading independent wine merchants have stepped up to the plate today to strongly criticise the quality of service that they are receiving from many of the major UK national wine suppliers and distributors.

Harpers Design Awards relaunches as global competition

The Harpers Design Awards are being relaunched for 2014 as a global competition, inviting entries for wines, spirits, beers, ciders and soft drinks from anywhere in the world - providing they are already on sale in the market.

France Summit to focus on how the country is adapting to UK consumer needs

Harpers will once again be turning the spotlight well and truly on the ins and outs, ups and downs of the French wine category as the French Summit returns for its second year on October 21 at London's St Ermin's Hotel.

Guy Woodward lambasts old school wine world for being stuck in its ivory tower

Former Decanter editor, Guy Woodward, uses his first regular Harpers column today to lambast the old school wine world for being out of touch with how consumers now want to talk about wine.

How retailers are using consumers to drive their brand image and strategy

The new, all-singing, all-dancing London Wine Fair was an apt setting for Harpers debate on how companies can harness consumer power to drive their businesses forward.

Independent wine merchants report sales hikes of up to 30%

Independent wine merchants are going from strength to strength in the UK, with a straw poll showing sales up by between 20 and 30%.

Why wine clubs need up their game to fully engage with their members

Hannah Saunders, international and UK business development director for contract publishing company, Cedar Communications, assesses the merits of the retailer wine clubs and finds many could take lessons from other sectors on how to fully engage and interact with their customers and members.

Wine Vision to focus on how industry must adapt to millennials' needs

Wine Vision's return to London in November will examine key issues affecting growth in the industry as relationships between wine brands and consumers change and competition from spirits and beer intensifies.

Beer drives Constellation Brands to increase financial expectations for 2015

Constellation Brands first quarter results for fiscal year 2015 beat expectations primarily due to its Crown Import beer distribution acquisitions last year and based on the results increased its fiscal year outlook.

Bulk Pinot Grigio stocks tighten, says Murphy Wine Company

Australian wineries face selling wines at a loss in 2014

Australian wineries face selling their wines at a loss this year if prices fall below current levels, given high costs of grapes and production in 2014, warns top wine broker.

Clapham wine bar to open in public toilet

A 100-year-old public toilet in Clapham in south London is getting ready to open its doors after being radically revamped into WC, Wine & Charcuterie bar.

Bordeaux-based wine and technology accelerator attracts investors

Treasury Wine Estates appoints Coca-Cola exec to lead Asia and Europe

Tesco to host a live online summer wine taste along

Constellation Brands hits 52-week high ahead of Q1 2015 results

Constellation Brands (STZ) closed yesterday $88.13 just shy of the 52-week high of $88.55 it hit on June 25, and analysts are optimistic about tomorrow's Q1 results.

Nail-biting times for US wine shipments as contract deadline looms

Delays and surcharges are on the cards for wine shippers as so far negotiators have failed to reach agreement on new contracts between dockworkers and their employers on the US west coast.

Australian wine legend, Doug Lehmann, dies a year after his father Peter

Doug Lehmann, one of the charismatic figures in the Australian wine trade, has died over the weekend aged 62.