Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Harpers to partner in Sommelier Wine Awards revival for 2024

Published: 03 July, 2023

Harpers is delighted to announce that owner Agile Media has teamed up with Imbibe Live to bring back The Sommelier Wine Awards (SWA) for 2024.

WSTA welcomes Alcohol Duty Review delay

Published: 22 July, 2022

Following months of lobbying from the trade, the government yesterday (July 20) delayed its alcohol duty review till the Autumn.

Scottish Wholesale Associations joins new Zero Emission Truck Taskforce

Published: 13 May, 2022

Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA) has been invited to join Scotland’s new Zero Emission Truck Taskforce to recognise its ongoing work with members as part of its ‘Decarbonisation of the Wholesale Industry’ project.

The Taskforce comprises industry leaders from the road haulage, logistics, manufacturing, energy and finance sectors who will partner to identify and co-design creative and practical solutions to maximising opportunities. It will also tackle any hurdles about technology, charging infrastructure, costs, finance, and operator engagement in the transition to zero-emission trucks.

The new collaboration will set out the steps required to enable a swift transition to new technologies, identify where further development is needed, and explore new business models.

Australia facing the heat

Published: 25 January, 2022

With much of its current viticultural activity already adjusting to a changing climate, Australia’s wine industry is fast progressing with its sustainability programmes.

Scotch Whisky Association receives UN recognition for sustainability commitments

Published: 20 September, 2021

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has become the UK’s first food and drink trade association to be recognised as a Race to Zero partner.

Scottish Wholesale Association’s Achievers Awards open for entries

Published: 29 June, 2021

Entries are now open for the Achievers Awards 2022, the industry programme that rewards outstanding performance across the wholesale trade in Scotland.

US Scotch whisky tariffs “unsustainable” as losses hit £500m

Published: 02 February, 2021

The impact of tariffs on Scotch whisky exports to the US is “unsustainable” as losses for the sector have hit £500m, according to the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).

UK to suspend US tariffs in hope of relief on Scotch exports post-Brexit

Published: 09 December, 2020

The UK is to suspend existing EU-imposed import tariffs on a slew of US products as Brexit transition comes to an end on 1 January, with the hope that a reciprocal move will see harsh US duties on Scotch lifted.

Scottish food and drink wholesalers to receive £5m resilience fund

Published: 07 December, 2020

A new Scottish Wholesale Food and Drink Resilience Fund has been established by the Scottish government to help wholesalers affected by Covid-19 restrictions to cover fixed costs for a six-month period from October 2020.

SWA backs Mexico-UK spirits accord

Published: 01 December, 2020

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has welcomed the announcement of the Mexico-UK Spirits Agreement.

UK spirits exports face huge strain

Published: 13 October, 2020

The UK’s burgeoning spirits industry has taken a hit, with exports significantly down in the first half of 2020.

Scotch whisky industry launches Diversity and Inclusivity Charter

Published: 28 September, 2020

The Scotch Whisky industry is this week launching its Diversity and Inclusivity Charter in a series of events led by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).

SWA publishes revised industry marketing code

Published: 30 July, 2020

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has published the fourth edition of its Code of Practice for the Responsible Marketing and Promotion of Scotch Whisky.

SWA calls on whisky fans to urge government to ‘call time on tariffs’

Published: 20 July, 2020

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has launched a campaign urging whisky lovers to write to their MPs underlining the damage that US tariffs are causing to the Scotch whisky industry and asking them to “urge the government to call time on tariffs”.

Scottish distillers pledge 13.5 million litres of ethanol for hand sanitiser

Published: 23 April, 2020

Distillers across Scotland have currently pledged over 13.5 million litres of ethanol to support the production of more than 54 million bottles of hand sanitiser.

Trade associations collectively urge governments to keep food and drink imports and exports flowing

Published: 16 April, 2020

Trade associations from across the UK food and drink supply chain have come together to publish a letter, calling on governments to ensure the continuation of imports and exports of food and drink at this critical time.

US and UK whisky industries demand action on tariffs

Published: 29 January, 2020

Whisky industry bodies on both sides of the Atlantic have issued a joint call for their respective governments to stop using tariffs on whisky as a proxy battle in unrelated trade disputes.

SWAF pledges its support to six new projects

Published: 13 November, 2019

The Scotch Whisky Action Fund (SWAF) has announced a list of six projects that it will be supporting over the coming year as part of its ongoing commitment to tackling alcohol misuse.