Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Pernod Ricard off-loads brandy to focus on spirits

Published: 02 December, 2016

Pernod Ricard is selling the Domecq brand and its related brandies and wines to Emperador Group and Gonzalez Byass.

New sparkling brand offering "Prosecco" in a can prepares to launch in the UK

Published: 02 December, 2016

A new lifestyle-led sparkling wine brand is aiming to match the prospects in the female drinkers/millennials market with the Italian wine and the RTD categories in the hopes of cracking the UK market.

The Benevolent raises over £37,000 in first silent auction

Published: 02 December, 2016

The Benevolent would like to say a big thank you to those you took part in their Thanks for Giving auction.

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

Published: 02 December, 2016

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

WSTA outlines "the road ahead" for Brexit ministers

Published: 01 December, 2016

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) is calling for Brexit ministers to let the drinks industry lead negotiations to ensure the best possible free trade agreements with the EU andfurther afield.

Devon winery continues to raise profile with Enotria&Coe partnership

Published: 01 December, 2016

Devon-based winery Lyme Bay has announced a new partnership with leading UK wine and spirits distributor, Enotria&Coe.

Bibendum unveils new pricing insight tool

Published: 01 December, 2016

Bibendum has launched a new tool to provide customers with a "complete picture of the market" thus helping them to list the right products at the right price and to identify gaps in the market.

Sommeliers to head Down Under for 2017's The World's 50 Best Restaurants

Published: 01 December, 2016

The World's 50 Best Restaurants, the event which celebrates the best of global gastronomy, is being held in Australia.

Customer satisfaction with Eileen Ginger of Whitbread Plc

Published: 29 November, 2016

Whitbread is the UK's largest hospitality group, with an annual turnover of £2.9 billion. Harpers spoke to wine, beer and cider buyer Eileen Ginger about the drinks offerings across the portfolio

Building a hospitality group: Big Red Teapot

Published: 29 November, 2016

Eight years after launching their first venture, Hamilton's Bar and Kitchen, Edinburgh-based hospitality group Big Red Teapot has just opened the doors to its fourth bar, The Voyage of Buck.

Bacardi expands global leadership team

Published: 29 November, 2016

Spirit behemoth Bacardi has appointed a new senior vice president and global chief communications officer.

Damage to tanks will be the biggest cost to Marlborough winemakers following earthquake

Published: 29 November, 2016

Winegrowers in Marlborough have been left with a "big task" to repair tanks, around 20% of which were damaged during November's 14's Kaikoura earthquake.

Festive fizz

Published: 29 November, 2016

Champagne may be facing a bumpy time in the UK but, as Christmas approaches, all signs are that sparkling wines without the famous French appellation attached to their label are in rude health and many retailers are pinning their hopes on bumper fizz sales this festive season.

Usain Bolt becomes "CEO" of top Champagne house

Published: 29 November, 2016

Usain Bolt has swapped winning for wines in a new partnership with one of France's largest Champagne producers.

Four Pillars joins up with Love Drinks for UK distribution

Published: 28 November, 2016

Yara Valley distillery Four Pillars Gin, has appointed a new distributor for the UK.

Vinisud goes annual

Published: 28 November, 2016

The trade tasting which puts wines of the Mediterranean in the spotlight has become annual fixture on the international's trade's calendar.

Can bullish optimism and higher average spend save wine from a Brexit bust?

Published: 28 November, 2016

With referendum result and the ensuring market turmoil, on top escalating overheads and competition from online/supermarkets threatening the off-trade, it's of little surprise that there's not much festive cheer on the high street at the moment.

Brexit - boom or bust?

Published: 28 November, 2016

Britain's retailers, faced with the fall in sterling and market turbulence, surely have little to celebrate in Christmas 2016.

World's oldest Port house launches into second major high street retailer

Published: 25 November, 2016

Historic Port brand, Kopke, is currently launching its Reserve Tawny Port into Waitrose - the second time the brand has been listed in a major national retailer in the UK, following the launch of its 1996 Colheita (an aged Tawny Port made with grapes from a single vintage) in M&S in September.