Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Industry calls on Chancellor for duty help

Published: 13 November, 2017

Trade associations have called on Chancellor Philip Hammond not to increase duty rates for the second time in a year.

Major English wine producers back WSTA's call for a freeze on wine duty

Published: 23 October, 2017

Major English and Welsh wine producers have joined forces with the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) to lobby the Chancellor for a cut to wine duty in the November Budget.

EU and UK wines and spirits chiefs launch joint Brexit proposition paper

Published: 19 October, 2017

European and UK bodies responsible for the wider wine and spirit industry have joined together to publish a joint position paper to outline their stance on Brexit.

WSTA warns of further hefty price hikes if duty is not frozen

Published: 16 October, 2017

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has warned of further wine and spirit price hikes if the Chancellor fails to freeze duty in the November Budget.

Brexit: Clarity versus chaos

Published: 11 October, 2017

At the recent WSTA Conference the trade called for greater clarity over a potential Brexit deal. Andrew Catchpole reports

Tory backbenchers team up with the WSTA to produce their own gin

Published: 05 October, 2017

The WSTA has continued its rallying cry to the government to support producers of British gin, by convincing the 1922 Committee on board to make its own blend.

Brexit-focused WSTA Conference delivers greater clarity - on extent of uncertainty

Published: 13 September, 2017

The WSTA’s Miles Beale called on the government for “more active partnership, more communication and to get more done” at its annual conference in London on Tuesday, which delivered insights into the complexity of Brexit, along with the gulf of uncertainty that still exists for the UK drinks trade.

Retail wine sales hit six-year high as Brexit pushes up prices

Published: 13 September, 2017

Sales of still wine in the off-trade saw record value growth in the last quarter new figures show, as well as the largest increase in average prices since April 2014.

WSTA calls on government to ‘stop punishing consumers’ as wine prices continue to rise

Published: 12 September, 2017

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has called on the government to “stop punishing consumers” as its latest market report, released today, revealed the impact of the triple whammy price hike.

Final panelists to join resigned trade minister at WSTA conference

Published: 05 September, 2017

The final panelists for the WSTA’s international trade-themed annual conference have been revealed.

Rum set to break £1 billion barrier

Published: 26 August, 2017

Hot on the heels of gin, rum is the latest spirit set to reach sales of £1 billion later this year.

TWE's Tom King joins the WSTA board

Published: 21 August, 2017

Dan Townsend’s successor at Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has joined the board of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

WSTA urges Government clarity to prevent Brexit chaos for businesses

Published: 03 August, 2017

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association’s chief executive Miles Beale has flagged up the “deep seated” concerns of drinks industry leaders over the Government’s apparent lack of clear strategy over Brexit.

Guy Woodward: Alcohol - the elephant in the cellar

Published: 27 July, 2017

Throughout my time around the wine trade, one fundamental aspect of its make-up has been constantly swept under the carpet. Alcohol. I have seen members of the trade battle addiction issues; engage in drink-driving, embarrass themselves through over-indulgence. And that’s before one turns to the damage wreaked in wider society. Yet never have I heard the topic discussed at any length or in any depth; we’d sooner spend hours debating terroir and tartaric acid.

WSTA's Miles Beale: No-deal Brexit "unacceptable"

Published: 19 June, 2017

The WSTA has responded to concerns around May’s promise of a "no deal" Brexit, warning it could leave the UK on a “cliff-edge”.

Breaking down the Brexit unknowns

Published: 14 June, 2017

With change the only certainty of Brexit, the trade needs to prepare for likely eventualities and present a united front.

Spirit revenues top beer for the first time

Published: 05 June, 2017

Sales of spirits brought more money to the Treasury than beer for the first time ever, according to the latest HMRC figures released this morning.

Jerry Lockspeiser: What are we voting about on June 8th?

Published: 30 May, 2017

When we wake up on June 9th we will have a new parliament and a new Government, probably one that will last for the next five years.

Ex-Sopexa UK & Ireland boss Anne Burchett launches new marketing venture

Published: 26 May, 2017

Anne Burchett, a well know figure in the UK wine trade and former managing director of Sopexa UK and Ireland, has launched herself back into the trade with the founding of Burchett Wine & Food Marketing.

LWF Day One: The big Brexit debate

Published: 22 May, 2017

Breaking down the cloud of uncertainty brought about by Brexit into manageable bite-sized pieces was the objective of panelists at this afternoon’s London Wine Fair industry briefing.