Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

The Wine Society temporarily closes

Published: 24 March, 2020

The Wine Society has taken the decision to stop taking new orders and also to stop making deliveries with immediate effect.

Cambridge indies react to coronavirus uncertainty

Published: 20 March, 2020

Cambridge-based Chris Wilson gets on his bike for a taste of what it’s like for those at the sharp end of wine retail.

Pierre Mansour, The Wine Society, on trade as the crisis escalates

Published: 19 March, 2020

Pierre Mansour, head buyer at The Wine Society, speaks to Andrew Catchpole on the immediate impact of the crisis, managing the spike in sales, supply and virtual initiatives to keep members engaged.

Virtual Happy Hour leads on-trade support initiatives

Published: 19 March, 2020

A new ‘at home tasting’ initiative is looking to support the hospitality industry by encouraging the public to drink at home as if they were at their favourite bars and pubs.

Friday Read: Wine ecommerce - learning from China

Published: 06 March, 2020

China has become the world leader in wine ecommerce and there is much we could learn, writes Emilie Steckenborn, founder of the Bottled in China Podcast.

Dry January a hit with one-in-four UK drinkers

Published: 03 February, 2020

More than a quarter of UK drinkers (27%) cut their alcohol consumption entirely or in part during January, new research has revealed.

Feel Good Grapes: All you need to know about the new online retailer

Published: 23 January, 2020

UK-based wine businessman and writer Mike Turner has added a new string to his bow for 2020. As well as running Please Bring Me My Wine, a wine industry focused digital media consultancy, and co-owning Primrose Hill restaurant La Ferme, where he oversees the wine list and wine training, he has launched a new online wine merchant.

DMD aims to take the next step with £500K crowdfunding bid

Published: 04 November, 2019

DMD Ventures, the parent company behind online alcohol retailer 31Dover and on-trade supplier Vanquish, is about to embark on a financial bid to the tune of half a million pounds.

Overall online sales slump while BWS leap

Published: 23 October, 2019

Overall online sales recorded a year-on-year rise of just 0.6% in September but was boosted by a strong performance from the beer, wine and spirits (BWS) category.

Aldi launches free online wine course

Published: 18 October, 2019

Discount multiple retailer Aldi has unveiled a free new online wine course aimed at helping consumers find their way around the wine aisle.

UK is the world’s third largest ecommerce market for alcohol – but can you name one and two?

Published: 17 October, 2019

The UK has been identified as one of the top countries in the world for sales of alcohol online, with a surprising outcome for the first and second spot.

Aldi goes premium with new Icons range

Published: 10 September, 2019

Aldi is launching a brand new range of online exclusives in order to capture growing interest from customers who are willing to trade up and explore.

US arm of Naked Wines named ‘best wine club’

Published: 23 August, 2019

Nakedwines.com, the US arm of Naked Wines, has been awarded ‘Best Wine Club’ 2019 in the USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice travel awards.

Harpers teams with Wines Direct to exclusively reveal Consumer Awards 2019

Published: 05 August, 2019

Harpers has teamed up with Wines Direct to exclusively reveal the winners of Wines Direct Consumer Awards 2019 (indies and large merchants) alongside new insight into shopping behaviours drawn from the responses of more than 1,700 consumers

Joe Fattorini: selling obscure online

Published: 30 July, 2019

JOE FATTORINI

Online sales growth in sharp slowdown

Published: 29 July, 2019

Online retail sales grew by 5.4% for the first half of 2019, down from 16.9% growth for the comparable period in 2018, according to data from the latest IMRG CapGemini eRetail Sales Index.

In store rationalisation means consumers are seeking out diversity online

Published: 06 June, 2019

Wine is the most frequently purchased alcoholic beverage online, it has been revealed, as consumers increasingly turn to the web to seek out the product diversity that’s been lost from the high street.

Online BWS sales grow ahead of market

Published: 24 April, 2019

The beer, wine and spirits (BWS) category recorded 9.6% growth in online sales last month compared to March 2018.

Co-op and Digital Goodie team up to launch online shop

Published: 02 April, 2019

The Co-op has launched its first online grocery home delivery service after teaming up with Finnish online outfit Digital Goodie. Live now, shoppers in central London can shop online and receive their order in less than two hours.

Shift from shop to showroom is vital for the future of retail, says Majestic CEO

Published: 27 March, 2019

The chief executive of the newly rebranded Naked Wines has defended the decision to trim down its 200-store estate while shifting investment focus to the online side of the business.