Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

South African exports up

Published: 23 July, 2008

South African wine sales in the UK, its biggest market, are up more than 2% on last year, but still well below the 10% total global export growth for the first half 2007.

EU saves the pint

Published: 23 July, 2008

Pints have been saved, with the European Commission set to confirm it will continue to allow the UK to use imperial measurements.

Gerard Basset opens new hotel

Published: 23 July, 2008

UK: Basset opens Hotel TerraVina in the New Forest

Scottish smoking ban improves public health

Published: 23 July, 2008

UK: Year on year hospital admissions down

Aluminium bottle tests the mettle

Published: 23 July, 2008

In another move toward environmentally friendly wines, an Australian company has produced a range of aluminium-bottled wines.

Record Australian wine exports

Published: 23 July, 2008

Australian wine exports set new records, rising 8% by value and 9% by volume in the year ending August 31.

Gordon Ramsay to open 10 more pubs next year

Published: 23 July, 2008

UK: Celebrity chef to build on success of London pubs

S&N rejects Carlsberg bid

Published: 23 July, 2008

Britain's largest brewer, Scottish & Newcastle, has rejected a hostile takeover bid by Danish rival Carlsberg, saying it had plans to expand its business in Asia.

John Lewis on the march

Published: 23 July, 2008

The John Lewis Partnership, owners of Waitrose, is expected to report up to 40% increase in half-year profits later this week.

Poor summer a boost to Restaurant Group

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Restaurant Group is expected on Wednesday to report a jump in pre-tax up to 16.5 million for the first half of the year due largely to more people choosing to spend more time eating out during the poor summer.

Jefford takes title for second year running

Published: 23 July, 2008

Andrew Jefford told Harpers he was "rather embarrassed" after winning the Louis Roederer wine writer of the year for the second year in a row.

Woolworths to sell cheapest Champagne

Published: 23 July, 2008

Woolworths claims to be selling the cheapest ever bottle of Champagne to be sold in the UK available for only 5.

Punch profits down 8m

Published: 23 July, 2008

Demerger of Spirits could follow profits warning.

New CEO for Threshers

Published: 23 July, 2008

Roger Whiteside has stepped down as chief executive of drinks retailer Thresher Group, and appointed Yvonne Rankin as his replacement.

Seven new MWs

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Institute of Masters of Wine has announced seven students have become Masters of Wine (MW), including Sweden's first MW.

Another blow for C&C Group

Published: 23 July, 2008

UK: C&C Group flags up yet another warning

Children drinking over a bottle of wine a week

Published: 23 July, 2008

UK: Government study fuels cheap alcohol debate

Scotland announces ban on alcohol promotions

Published: 23 July, 2008

UK: The Scottish Executive is to ban a range of alcohol promotions in the off-trade under the Licensing Act

Agencies bid for binge-drinking ads

Published: 23 July, 2008

UK: The Government has shortlisted three agencies to create the "next generation" of anti-binge drinking ads targeted at 18- to 24-year-old binge drinkers and under-18s

China targets illegal alcohol

Published: 23 July, 2008

CHINA: The country's top quality watchdog yesterday (September 5) began a 10-day crackdown on illegal alcohol production in four provinces, as a curtain raiser to a series of food safety and product quality inspections.