Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

EPR fees announced as joint statement laments changes

Published: 30 June, 2025

The delayed details of the official cost per tonne of glass as part of the government’s EPR scheme have been announced by DEFRA.

Sommelier Wine Awards 2025 results

Published: 20 June, 2025

The results are in for this year’s Sommelier Wine Awards (SWA) competition with 2025’s crop of entries throwing up a healthy tally of medals, pointing to both the quality and diversity of wines available to the UK on-trade. And once again, in terms of overall wines entered and medals won, the major European producing countries lead the pack. Notable standouts too, though, are Australia, noted for its strong medal haul, and sparkling wines, including the English contingent, which also did very well.

EPR headaches: the key concerns surrounding the policy

Published: 10 March, 2025

The Extended Producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging scheme is yet another headwind in a now long line of challenges facing the UK drinks trade, with its implementation already well under way, but – some would say predictably – dogged by a lack of clarity and various unknowns.

Global Scotch sales: Slight decline with £5.4bn exported in 2024

Published: 14 February, 2025

Figures from the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) reveals that the total global export value for Scotch whisky stood at £5.4bn for 2024. This represents a slight decline of 3.7% in exports by value compared to 2023.

SWA highlights daily loss for HMRC of £500,000 duty

Published: 14 January, 2025

SWA chief executive has claimed the industry is “not crying wolf” over the impact of the double-digit rise in spirit duty since August 2023. According to Treasury figures, the revenue from spirits duty fell by £255m for the period running 1 August 2023 to 30 November 2024, which equates to an eye-watering half a million-pound loss in revenue every day for HMRC.

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’.