Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Borough Wines opens sixth shop in London

Published: 05 December, 2014

Independent merchant Borough Wines has opened its sixth London shop, this time in Clerkenwell.

Will the real Brigitte Bardot/Bordeaux please stand up?

Published: 04 December, 2014

Kent wine merchant Taurus has sexed up its image with the arrival of a new (actually it is an antique) Citroen HY van as a key member of its delivery fleet.

Start-ups 'exploding' into wine sector

Published: 04 December, 2014

Start-ups have exploded onto the wine sector, particularly those with a digital focus, as 1,400 apps alone launched by 2014.

Wine Fusion launches Conviviality exclusive NZ wine

Published: 04 December, 2014

The Wine Fusion has created New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Bay of Plenty especially for Conviviality's Bargain Booze and Wine Rack stores.

Good Wine Shop opens third outlet

Published: 03 December, 2014

Independent merchant the Good Wine Shop is opening a third branch - this time in Surrey's Esher - with plans for up to two more outlets in the pipeline.

Enotria appoints Hallgarten's Helen Munday as marketing director

Published: 03 December, 2014

Hallgarten's marketing director Helen Munday is jumping ship to take up the same role at Enotria, starting in January 2015.

Northern Ireland proceeds with minimum pricing policy

Published: 03 December, 2014

The Northern Ireland Executive is pressing ahead with plans for a minimum unit price for alcohol, despite similar plans in Scotland being reviewed the European Court of Justice.

Swedish drinks monopoly Systembolaget 'not about maximising sales'

Published: 03 December, 2014

"We're in this not for maximising sales but eliminating the harmful effects of alcohol. Is this possible? I think so." These words come from Sara Norrel, head of buying at Systembolaget, the monopoly that controls drinks sales in Sweden.

Chinese importer Summergate bought by Australia's Woolworths Liquor Company

Published: 02 December, 2014

Woolworths Liquor Group has bought Summergate, one of the China's most influential wine importers, in a move that considerably strengthens the Australian retail drinks giant's position in the country.

You'll need loadsamoney to enjoy St Pancras's £60 a glass Cinnamoney mulled wine

Published: 02 December, 2014

Hands up who likes mulled wine? Go on, you know you do. Throw in a few carols, a bit of recently laid snow and there's nothing quite like those touches of spice and cinnamon on a cold winter's day.

Wine trade needs to wake up to online sales, warns e-commerce expert

Published: 02 December, 2014

The wine trade needs to reconcile the "inexorable shift" in wine sales online and the product's overall route to market, warns wine e-commerce expert Matthew Protti.

London Wine Fair on look out for niche wine importers for its Esoterica fixture for independents

Published: 02 December, 2014

Small, independent or niche wine importers have the chance to book a place in the Esoterica feature at the London Wine Fair that has seen 80% of last year's exhibitors book again for the 2015 show.

UK on-trade gears up for bumper festive season

Published: 01 December, 2014

Bars and restaurants are heralding a bumper festive season, with bookings so far 5-10% ahead of last year.

Spanish wines fastest growing in UK bars and restaurants

Published: 01 December, 2014

Spanish wines are the fastest growing in the UK on-trade - listings are up 25% in the last year - at the expense of French wines, whose listings have fallen by 11%.

Accolade Wines going ahead with Grant Burge purchase

Published: 01 December, 2014

Accolade Wines and Barossa's Grant Burge wines have reached agreement on the acquisition of the Grant Burge brand and business, along with its Krondorf winery.

ProWein predicts biggest growth opportunities in the USA and Asia

Published: 01 December, 2014

Global wine trade show Prowein is forecasting stable world demand for wines in 2015 and sees North America and Asia as the largest markets for growth in the coming year.

Pol Roger Portfolio to distribute Kilchoman whiskies

Published: 01 December, 2014

Islay distillery Kilchoman has signed a deal with the family-run Pol Roger Champagne to distribute its range of single malt whiskies.

Guala Closures and MGJ launch screwcap closure liners with varying oxygen permeability

Published: 01 December, 2014

Guala Closures has joined forces with MGJ to develop a new range of liners for closures with different levels of oxygen permeability.

Pernod Ricard UK shakes up senior team

Published: 01 December, 2014

Pernod Ricard has promoted Simon van Moppes to the role of group on-trade director for the global business and Chris Ellis to commercial director for wines and spirits in the UK as it re-examines its market priorities.