Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Sommelier Wine Awards 2025 now open for entries

Published: 04 November, 2024

The Sommelier Wine Awards (SWA) is once again open for entries for its 2025 round of judging.

Scottish wholesalers praised in Parliament for economic contribution

Published: 30 September, 2024

Scotland’s food and drink wholesalers, alongside the Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA), were recognised in the Scottish Parliament for their vital role in supporting the economy and communities nationwide.

Scotch whisky exports fall by 18% in first half of 2024

Published: 12 September, 2024

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has revealed a significant drop in exports, with a decline of 18% in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. The value of exports in H1 2024 fell to £2.1bn, while the volume dropped by 10.2%, equating to 566 million 70cl bottles, or 36 bottles per second. This contrasts with 40 bottles per second in the first half of 2023.

SWAs full results revealed for 2024

Published: 01 July, 2024

Harpers is delighted to announce the results of the revamped and rebooted Sommelier Wine Awards (SWA) which were revealed this afternoon (1 July) at Imbibe Live.

Whisky association urges duty cut after revenue loss

Published: 24 June, 2024

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) is urging the next government to reverse the damage caused by Jeremy Hunt’s 10% increase in spirits excise duty. Newly published figures from HMRC reveal that the Treasury has lost more than £100m since the tax hike last August.

New president takes the helm at the SWA

Published: 14 June, 2024

Tom Slaven, retail director of Glasgow-based United Wholesale Grocers, has been elected to the role of president of the Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA), taking over from Julie Dunn.

SWA Merchant and Producer Awards to be unveiled at Imbibe Live!

Published: 14 June, 2024

Having crunched the numbers and totted up the results, the Sommelier Wine Awards (SWA) 2024 winners, including Merchant and Producer of the Year awards, plus the Wines of the Year, are to be announced at Imbibe Live! on 1 July at London Olympia.

The Sommelier Wine Awards return to Imbibe Live 2024

Published: 22 May, 2024

Imbibe Live, a leading event for the drinks industry, is set to return on 1-2 July at London Olympia.

Sommelier Wine Awards 2024 revealed

Published: 13 May, 2024

The results of the Sommelier Wine Awards (SWA) 2024 are now live, revealing the Gold, Silver and Bronze medal wines.

Sommelier Wine Awards makes a welcome return

Published: 14 March, 2024

Following a pandemic-induced hiatus, the Sommelier Wine Awards (SWA) made a lively return this week (12-13 March) at The Oval in London, bringing together judges from a wide pool of the UK's leading restaurants.

Alcohol duty frozen till February 2025

Published: 06 March, 2024

The government dashed hopes of a cut to alcohol duty following the announcement of the Spring Budget today (6 March) by chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

Jancis Robinson Collection announced as partner of SWA 2024

Published: 05 March, 2024

Returning after a post-pandemic hiatus, the Sommelier Wine Awards (SWA), a competition for wines in the on-trade, has revealed its official glassware partner – the Jancis Robinson Collection.

Tax cut would generate £1.6bn for Treasury says SWA

Published: 26 February, 2024

A duty cut to Scotch Whisky and other spirits would generate an extra £1.6bn over five years for public services, a new report has found.

New UK and Ireland Michelin stars revealed

Published: 06 February, 2024

The Michelin Guide, founded by the tyre company of the same name, began life as a humble guidebook, helping French travellers navigate the country at the dawn of the 20th Century. Today, The Michelin Guide is better known as the custodian of the most significant accolade in global gastronomy – the coveted ‘three stars’.

Scotch contributes £7bn to UK economy

Published: 16 January, 2024

The Scotch Whisky industry contributes more than £7bn to the UK economy, a report has found.

Henry Jeffreys: Whisky goes global

Published: 24 November, 2023

Henry Jeffreys looks beyond Scotch and more latterly Japan, to those countries which have emerged as serious, sellable propositions for the trade.

400 businesses demand alcohol duty freeze

Published: 06 November, 2023

Representatives of more than 400 businesses have written to the chancellor demanding an alcohol duty freeze in the Autumn Statement.

SWA open for entries

Published: 02 November, 2023

After a Covid-delivered hiatus of several years, the Sommelier Wine Awards (SWA), the UK’s premier on-trade wine competition, is back with a bang and ready to receive this year’s exciting entries.

Isa Bal steps up to chair Sommelier Wine Awards

Published: 02 October, 2023

Harpers and Imbibe Live are delighted to announce that Isa Bal MS is to head up the revived Sommelier Wine Awards competition (SWA).

Whisky Investment Company calls on SWA to ‘head up’ CWA

Published: 28 September, 2023

Following the launch of the Cask Whisky Association (CWA), a board of members committed to upholding best practices in cask whisky ownership and sale, the MD of a leading whisky investment company has called on the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) to back the development.