Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Cask whisky specialist eyes Asian market

Published: 05 July, 2021

London-based Cask Trade is opening an outpost in Hong Kong following an “unprecedented” spike in demand from the region.

Technology: Power of the network

Published: 17 June, 2021

The phrase ‘content is king’ gained new meaning at this year’s LWF where two sessions focused on how runaway digital adoption rates among consumers are leading to seismic shifts around how the industry markets and sells wine. Jo Gilbert reports.

Trade welcomes Oz-UK announcement of FTA

Published: 15 June, 2021

The reality of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Australia and the UK has moved a step closer with the prime ministers of both countries confirming on Monday that a deal will be done, though with much detail still to be thrashed out.

Online sales still booming

Published: 15 June, 2021

Sales of alcohol online have remained strong despite the fuller opening of the on-trade, signalling how buying BWS online has become a way of life during the pandemic, as Jo Gilbert reports.

Hospitality under pressure

Published: 14 June, 2021

In a piece written before the government warned of a one-month delay to Covid restrictions lifting, Jacopo Mazzeo takes the temperature of the UK on-trade as staff shortages and restrictions continue to eat into venues’ ability to turn a profit.

Webinar: Exploring alternative premium whites

Published: 08 June, 2021

Modern food styles and lifestyles often naturally lend themselves to white wine, but is the trade doing enough to encourage consumers to trade up and seek out a wider variety of premium white choices or is the premium spotlight more typically shone on reds? And when customers do trade up within whites, is that limited to just a handful of usual suspects rather than embracing the global wealth of premium possibilities?

Meeting demand: How suppliers have risen to the reopening challenge

Published: 07 June, 2021

The demand from the on-trade has been ‘huge’ following outdoor (12 April) and indoor (17 May) hospitality reopening. Jo Gilbert speaks to some of the UK’s leading suppliers to ask how they’ve managed to keep stock flowing.

Prentis promises to work with industry on certification and Brexit/Covid fallout

Published: 28 May, 2021

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has welcomed a “positive and productive” meeting with Victoria Prentis MP where she is said to have understood the “value” of the wine and spirits industry and vowed to work closely on rebuilding post-Brexit and Covid.

Adam Smith Institute calls out ‘Alice in Wonderland’ thinking on VI-1s

Published: 26 May, 2021

The Adam Smith Institute has added its voice to calls on government to reduce post-Brexit red tape for the wine trade, including scrapping the much derided and wholly unnecessary VI-1 forms.

Innovation Report: Building strength in numbers

Published: 25 May, 2021

Our Collaboration as a Force for Change webinar looked at how the rapid channel innovation of the past year has broken down barriers for trade. Jo Gilbert reports from the session.

Sizing up Spain

Published: 24 May, 2021

Despite the twin pressures of Covid and Brexit, Spain’s wines have managed to stay in relatively good shape thanks to an uplift in off-trade sales. Andrew Catchpole reports.

Harpers Wine Stars 2022 now open for entries

Published: 20 May, 2021

Harpers Wine Stars 2022 is welcoming entries for this year’s competition.

‘First-day back’ sales see 25% uplift for bars and restaurants on 17 May

Published: 20 May, 2021

After five weeks of outdoor-only trading, CGA research has revealed a strong start to the week for managed groups as consumers make the most of being able to drink and eat indoors for the first time since December.

LWF: Digital efficiencies helping with the big three – content flow, stock flow, cash flow

Published: 20 May, 2021

A mental shift around harnessing digital capabilities and automation this year has moved businesses towards stock management systems that free up time and capital to focus on sharing information and storytelling with customers.

Wine on the rise with younger consumers as on-trade returns

Published: 20 May, 2021

Younger consumers plan to spend more than before as they return to pubs and restaurants, and spend a larger slice of that money on wine.

Jerry Lockspeiser: Why claiming wine is good for health is bad for business

Published: 19 May, 2021

The wine trade can be a wonderful place to work. Yes, we have had our share of stresses and strains since Covid used its airmiles. True, people running wine businesses can spend more time with PnL spreadsheets and cashflow projections than they do with the latest vintage from Chateau Marvellous. But overall, the balance sheet for working with wine is very strong.

Hallgarten Wines clinches Simpsons for the on-trade

Published: 10 May, 2021

Hallgarten & Novum Wines has become the sole distributor for Simpsons Wine Estate’s range in the on-trade – a move which the distributor said would help them capitalise on “sky-rocketing” consumer interest of English wines.

Draycott to take helm at Gonzalez Byass UK

Published: 26 April, 2021

Melissa Draycott has been appointed MD of González Byass UK, effective from 1 September 2021, taking over the roll from Martin Skelton.

Staffing For Success

Published: 22 April, 2021

For the second of our Building Back webinars in collaboration with Trade Hospitality App, Andrew Catchpole invited on-trade leaders to examine the growing issue of attracting and retaining talent.

Bordeaux trading rises on US tariff suspension ahead of 2020 EP campaign

Published: 19 April, 2021

Market sentiment towards Bordeaux is “showing signs of recovery” as this year’s En Primeur campaign swings around, according to the Liv-ex members’ Bordeaux report released today.