Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Three companies show interest in Absolut

Published: 23 July, 2008

Three companies have made formal approaches to the Swedish government about taking over Vin & Sprit, the state-owned producer of Absolut vodka.

Blavod talks fall through

Published: 23 July, 2008

The takeover talks between Blavod Extreme Spirits, the producer of flavoured vodkas, and an unidentified American company have fallen through.

Shipping giant's earnings up by 45%

Published: 23 July, 2008

Swiss shipping company Kuehne + Nagel has announced a 45% increase in net earnings in the past year to a record CHF458 million (194m).

Stratford's first venture into Spain

Published: 23 July, 2008

Bodegas Olvena in Somontano is the first Spanish winery - and only the second Old World producer - to be part of Stratford's Wine Agencies' portfolio.

Bulgaria 2007

Published: 23 July, 2008

Bulgaria holds a special place in the European
history of wine..find out more in our 2007 supplement

Grape to glass' first for English producer

Published: 23 July, 2008

Nyetimber, the awarded English sparkling wine producer, has helped to design a unique insurance policy - the first of its kind globally - to protect its grapes against a number of risks, including crop spraying.

All change for supermarket buying teams

Published: 23 July, 2008

Sainsbury's has appointed a new buyer to cover North America and Germany, while Somerfield has restructured its beer, wine and spirits team.

Mount and Paul team up for new wine website

Published: 23 July, 2008

Ex-Somerfield buyer Angela Mount and former Western Wines MD Mike Paul have announced details of a new website that offers wine advice and reviews for consumers.

Big Tigger laps up Courvoisier

Published: 23 July, 2008

The favourite Cognac of rapper Busta Rhymes and Napoleon Bonaparte now has a new face to extol its virtues.

Waitrose buyers set for stardom

Published: 23 July, 2008

Wine buyers at Waitrose will appear in the retailer's latest TV commercial.

Thierry's French range grows across the board

Published: 23 July, 2008

Agent and importer Thierry's has announced new additions to three of its French agencies.

Provence aims to double UK?market share by 2009

Published: 23 July, 2008

The generic body responsible for Provence wines is to make a big push in the UK?market, and intends to double its market share within two years.

Constellation to build largest bonded warehouse in Europe

Published: 23 July, 2008

Constellation Europe is to spend tens of millions' of pounds on a new packaging and warehousing unit in the West Country that will be the biggest of its kind in Europe.

Government denies no alcohol' warning for pregnant women

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Department of Health has denied claims that it is calling for the drinks industry to urge expectant mothers to boycott alcohol completely for the duration of their pregnancy.

Rupert Clevely, CEO, Geronimo Inns

Published: 23 July, 2008

After 20 years of working as managing director of Veuve Clicquot (UK) and international marketing director for Veuve Clicquot, Rupert Clevely founded the Geronimo group of pubs in 1995 with his wife, Joanna. The company now has 15 sites in London and around the M25, including the Black Swan at Ockham in Surrey and the Tin Goose pubs in Heathrow's Terminals 1 and 3. Next year Geronimo Inns Ltd will open a pub in St Pancras to coincide with the launch of the Eurostar service. Clevely's father, John Clevely MW, is responsible for the wine lists at Geronimo Inns.
Suppliers: Berkmann, Enotria, Louis Latour.

Getting set to tackle UK

Published: 23 July, 2008

Parisian Florence Boube-Legrand moved to Avigon in 2003 to join the Rhne's generic body as export manager for Asia, eastern Europe and Scandinavia. She had had no previous work experience in the wine trade, only developing an interest while working as marketing manager for the lifestyle section of Parisian newspaper, Le Figaro.

Rhne: the vital statistics

Published: 23 July, 2008

The first piece of good news for Inter Rhne is that it has maintained its position as the number-one AOC?in the UK off-trade, having stolen the crown from Bordeaux last year.

Matthew Clark turns to Italy and Oz

Published: 23 July, 2008

Italy and Australia were the main focus at the annual tastings of Matthew Clark - Constellation's on-trade arm - which were held in London and Southampton earlier this month.