Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Traditional bottles most popular choice for consumers

Published: 27 July, 2012

The traditional glass wine bottle may lose its stranglehold on the market but it won't ever be entirely replaced by alternative packaging.

RAW opens pop-up natural wine burger bar

Published: 27 July, 2012

Following the success of natural wine fair RAW, organiser Isabelle Legeron MW is setting up a pop-up natural wine burger bar at Borough Market.

Warm weather spells good news for wine retailers

Published: 27 July, 2012

The long-awaited appearance of the sun after a washout early summer spells good news for UK retailers, with some seeing double-digit uplifts in wine sales.

Ooberstock adds spirit range and plans further expansion

Published: 27 July, 2012

Ooberstock, the new Amazon-style wholesaler, has added a comprehensive spirits range to its growing portfolio.

Mixed week for sterling

Published: 27 July, 2012

A mixed week saw sterling reach fresh 2.5 year highs of €1.2875/1 against the euro before weakening off after global risk appetite increased and appalling UK GDP data was released which saw sterling strengthen by nearly 2.5 cents against the US dollar yesterday.

Fledgling wine brand pranks Innocent Drinks

Published: 26 July, 2012

A fledgling low-calorie wine brand, Skinny Vines, garnered publicity today by playing a prank on soft drinks firm Innocent.

Fledgling wine brand pranks Innocent Drinks

Published: 26 July, 2012

A fledgling low-calorie wine brand, Skinny Vines, garnered publicity today by playing a prank on soft drinks firm Innocent.

Tasting offers 'widest range of sherries' in UK

Published: 26 July, 2012

Claiming to showcase the largest collection of sherries in the UK, the Great Sherry Tasting will take place on September 17.

Rusden Wines abandons screwcap for cork

Published: 26 July, 2012

A leading Australian winery has returned to cork after five years of "persistent quality control issues" using screwcaps.

English winemakers welcome the sun

Published: 26 July, 2012

English vineyard owners are rejoicing at the arrival of a warmer weather front after earlier fears for their crops.

Drinks industry welcomes falling alcohol consumption in young people

Published: 26 July, 2012

The drinks trade has welcomed NHS statistics showing alcohol consumption in young people has fallen.

Naked Wines opens California winery

Published: 25 July, 2012

Naked Wines has opened a winery in California and is offering winemakers the opportunity to crush their own grapes.

Sterling fairly strong yesterday despite poor start

Published: 25 July, 2012

Sterling was fairly strong yesterday despite a poor start to the day as new mortgage approval rates were much lower than anticipated.

Hampshire sees opening of new gin distillery

Published: 24 July, 2012

Bombay Sapphire Gin has unveiled plans to open a distillery in Hampshire.

Oddbins takes stand against Olympics marketing rules

Published: 24 July, 2012

Oddbins has called on small businesses to find creative ways to circumvent the "legal straitjacket" surrounding the Olympics, and has developed its own off-the-wall marketing push.

Consumers eat out more but spend less

Published: 24 July, 2012

Consumers are eating out more often now than at any time in the past two years, but they're spending less, according to a consumer survey from Horizons.

Rémy Cointreau buys Islay distiller Bruichladdich for £58 million

Published: 24 July, 2012

Rémy Cointreau UK has signed a deal to buy Islay Scotch whisky distiller Bruichladdich for £58 million.

Bibendum poaches Waitrose's Andrew Shaw as head of buying

Published: 23 July, 2012

Bibendum has appointed Waitrose's wine buying manager Andrew Shaw as its new head of buying.

Treasury Wine Estates appoints new chairman

Published: 23 July, 2012

Non-executive director Paul Rayner is set to become Treasury Wine Estate's new chairman from September 1...

Off-trade wine sales plummet

Published: 23 July, 2012

Sales of wine in the off-trade have plummeted by 27 million bottles and spirits the equivalent of six million, according to Harpers' sister publication the Grocer's Biggest Alcohol Brands report.