Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Selling independence

Published: 02 August, 2021

With on-trade reopening still disrupted, Andrew Catchpole assesses the impact and opportunities for indies’ wholesale operations.

WSTA claims victory as VI-1 forms scrapped

Published: 26 July, 2021

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has won a significant post-Brexit victory after government has agreed to scrap the time consuming and costly VI-1 forms on imported wine.

Severe staff shortages dampen Freedom Day

Published: 20 July, 2021

The number of new job vacancies in the hospitality sector rose by almost 10% in the last seven days, according to new analysis by audit, tax and consulting firm RSM.

Along came Covid

Published: 30 June, 2021

Jo Gilbert examines whether the past year has helped or hindered the pre-Brexit narrative that leaving the EU would benefit sales of English and Welsh wine

Staff shortages to hit crisis levels

Published: 23 June, 2021

Staff shortages in the hospitality sector are set to hit crisis levels following the 30 June, when it will become more difficult to hire EU workers, a leading City law firm has warned.

Soapbox: WSTA's David Richardson on the battle for the high seas

Published: 15 June, 2021

David Richardson, regulatory & commercial affairs director at the WSTA, speaks to Jo Gilbert about a ticking timebomb of worldwide container shortages and haulier delays which threaten to put the kibosh on wine’s global recovery from the pandemic

Recruitment and retention ‘huge’ concerns for hospitality

Published: 03 June, 2021

Fears of staff shortages after the pandemic and Brexit, plus challenges in keeping post-furlough teams productive have come out as key concerns for hospitality business leaders.

Brexit: Counting the cost

Published: 17 May, 2021

Far from fading away, the ‘B’ word still greatly troubles indie merchants, as Andrew Catchpole reports.

Alcohol exports plummet

Published: 05 May, 2021

Alcohol exports from the UK to the EU were in free fall for the first couple of months of this year, hit by the perfect storm of Brexit at the beginning of the year alongside Covid lockdowns across Europe continuing to shatter the on-trade, newly released data has revealed.

Bulk wine navigates rough waters

Published: 04 May, 2021

How have Covid-19 and Brexit affected the bulk wine business? Lucy Britner talks to producers around the world about the benefits of bulk and the challenges the past 12 months have brought

Govt delays VI-1 wine certification by six months

Published: 25 March, 2021

The government has delayed the VI-1 wine certification for wine imported to the UK from the EU by six months.

Gin exports hit by ‘time-consuming, complex' logistical Brexit difficulties

Published: 23 March, 2021

UK gin exports dropped by £100m in 2020 to £572m, according to new HMRC data.

SME Brexit Support Fund opens for applications

Published: 16 March, 2021

The £20m SME Brexit Support Fund, announced last month, is now open for applications.

Fine Wines Direct UK doubles bonded warehouse capacity

Published: 08 March, 2021

Fine Wines Direct UK has invested in a number of initiatives in preparation for the on-trade reopening, including purchasing more warehouse space next to its current site in Cardiff, Wales

Five minutes with Nicolas Clerc MS, Armit Wines

Published: 02 March, 2021

After a tumultuous 12 months, Nicolas Clerc, brand manager at Armit Wines reflects on buying and the impact of Brexit on running a ‘virtual’ Burgundy EP campaign

Trade calls Victoria Prentis out over VI-1 statement

Published: 25 February, 2021

An infuriated wine trade has today delivered an ‘unprecedented’ collective letter to Victoria Prentis MP, calling for the scrapping of VI-1 forms when the easement provision ends on 1 July.

Brexit: Reality bites

Published: 08 February, 2021

The actualities of shipping goods from the EU are beginning to sink in as wine incurs an estimated €200 per shipment, making groupage cost-prohibitive for many. Jo Gilbert calculates the knock-on costs to the trade

UK demand for Oz wine up in wake of Covid and Brexit

Published: 03 February, 2021

Sales of Australian wine in the UK have been boosted since the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic and in the months leading up to Brexit, according to Wine Australia’s latest Export Report.

Opportunities abound

Published: 27 January, 2021

The likelihood of a free trade agreement between the UK and Australia has led to optimism among many wine producers that new possibilities lie ahead. Andrew Catchpole reports.

Soapbox: Talking of funny foreigners

Published: 19 January, 2021

Have you ever used the ‘F word’ during a meeting with your biggest client? I have. Several times and, to make it worse, several times during the same meeting. The client was Jon Woodriffe, now of Origin Wines, but then Sainsbury’s buyer for French wines.