Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Bacardi CEO successor announced

Published: 07 March, 2017

Spirits giant Bacardi will have a new CEO by 2018.

Grocery market share for discounters hits record 12%

Published: 07 March, 2017

The march of the discounters continues as £1 in every £8 spent on groceries is now spent in either Aldi or Lidl.

Black Tower celebrates 50th birthday with new campaign

Published: 07 March, 2017

Black Tower - the producer of Liebfraumilch - is celebrating its 50th birthday with a new campaign and an on-pack promotion.

Halewood and Pernod Ricard show commitment to flavoured spirits

Published: 07 March, 2017

The trend for flavoured spirits is showing no signs of slowing down with further launches this week from Halewood and Pernod Ricard.

Stand alone Oregon and Washington State tasting returns to London

Published: 06 March, 2017

Wines from Oregon and Washington State are stepping out from California's shadow as they prepare to stage their first stand alone tasting in the UK in four years.

Two Brits on the list of four new inductees to the MW hall of fame

Published: 06 March, 2017

A co-founder of Noble Rot and a Marks & Spencer buyer are among four new names which have been added to the illustrious list of MWs.

The SWA issues final call for cut in duty

Published: 06 March, 2017

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has issued a final call for a 2% cut in spirits excise duty ahead of this week's Budget.

Sales of fizz breaks Christmas barrier of 45 million bottles for first time

Published: 06 March, 2017

Sales of sparkling set yet another benchmark in the run up to Christmas, with sparkler-hungry Brits quaffing 10% more than usual in the off-trade and 37% in the on-trade.

Heineken targets food outlets with artisanal cider duo

Published: 06 March, 2017

Heineken has added an artisanal duo to its Bulmers cider portfolio created with premium and food outlets in mind.

Harpers' Hot 100: Celebrating the most influential people in the on-trade

Published: 03 March, 2017

Welcome to the launch of Harpers' Hot 100, a new annual feature that looks to identify and celebrate the most influential people in the quality drinks-focused on-trade.

Moët UK's Sommelier Of The Year opens for entries

Published: 03 March, 2017

Moët & Chandon's Sommelier of the Year competition has returned for another year, once again looking to bestow the accolade on a shining star of the UK on-trade.

Sales of bourbon predicted to explode in the UK over next five years

Published: 03 March, 2017

Sales of bourbon could rival those of Scotch in the UK over the next five to ten years new data has shown.

Yellow Tail receives first makeover in 15 years

Published: 03 March, 2017

The updated bottles, rolling out from this week, feature labels designed to highlight the wine's family ownership and "authentic" credentials, including the addition of John Casella's signature alongside a stronger emphasis on the brand's iconic kangaroo, 'Roo'.

The week that was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

Published: 03 March, 2017

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have put together a review of the top online news, Q&As, and opinion stories.

London whisky fraudster could be the "Rudy Kurniawan" of UK spirits

Published: 02 March, 2017

A scuppered fraud operation has revealed "levels of sophistication never before seen in fraudulent spirits production", involving hundreds of counterfeit bottles of whisky and other spirits.

Rioja wine export volumes to UK fell in 2016, also dipping globally

Published: 02 March, 2017

For the first time in 20 years, Rioja wine export volumes to the UK have slumped, according to the most recent export figures for 2016

China poised to overtake the UK as the second biggest wine market

Published: 02 March, 2017

New data has revealed that China's still and sparkling wine market would reach US$21bn compared to US$16bn in the UK by 2020, pushing the UK into the third place in the process.