Looking ahead: Doug Wregg, Les Cave de Pyrene

As the first half of 2019 draws to a close, Harpers asked key trade figures to highlight the current challenges, ongoing trends and opportunities

Looking ahead: Mark Roberts, Lanchester Wines

As the first half of 2019 draws to a close, Harpers asked key trade figures to highlight the current challenges, ongoing trends and opportunities

Looking ahead: Ade McKeon, Accolade Wines

As the first half of 2019 draws to a close, Harpers asked key trade figures to highlight the current challenges, ongoing trends and opportunities

More segmentation around Christmas needed as trading up accelerates

Pernod Ricard is encouraging retailers and on-trade operators to think about Christmas in a series of moments and occasions that run throughout October, November and December, with different opportunities at different points through the three-month period.

Two to three big Christmases left for gin amid premium spirits boom

Pernod Ricard is banking on another big hurrah for gin growth this festive season, with its on-going popularity and major presence in the UK’s cocktail culture helping to boost growth of premium spirits.

Looking ahead: David Gleave, Liberty Wines

As the first half of 2019 draws to a close, Harpers asked key trade figures to highlight the current challenges, ongoing trends and opportunities. 

Bancroft beefs up fine wine team with Snoxell hire

James Snoxell has joined London-based supplier Bancroft Wines as its new fine wine buyer, the company has announced.

Wine Paris sets its stall for a second successful year

Buckingham Schenk expands sales team with Tim Calcroft hire

Buckingham Schenk has hired Tim Calcroft as on trade regional sales manager for the north.

Moving tribute to Gerard Basset crowns IWC Awards gala

The great and the good of the wine trade were out in full force last night to celebrate what turned out to be a memorable and also poignant IWC awards evening – thanks largely to a message from the late, great Gerard Basset, who was filmed accepting his lifetime achievement award at the end of the last year.

International spirits industry unites behind new global body

Many of the world’s leading spirits producers have partnered to create a new global organisation for the industry, it was announced in Geneva yesterday.

Run Bacchus fundraiser needs your support, The Benevolent says

Wine-trade charity The Benevolent is calling for more support for the runners taking part in this year’s Run Bacchus fundraising event.

Saunders wins chairman role at WSTA

Michael Saunders, chief executive of Bibendum PLB, has been appointed by the WSTA as its new chairman. He takes over from outgoing chairman, Dan Jago.

Winetraders signs up Hampshire’s Exton Park

Winetraders has expanded its listings with the addition of English sparkling wine producer Exton Park.

Harpers’ Industry Briefing: Upping the stakes

At Harpers’ Industry Briefing at London Wine Fair, Andrew Catchpole invited leading trade figures to assess how best to build value and margin back into the wine category. Here are the highlights from a sometimes impassioned and insightful dicussion. 

On-trade is moving with the times, say suppliers, as Jamie’s and other well-known faces disappear from the high street

The tired, middle of the road, mid-market section of the on-trade is falling away to make way for new, more innovative concepts, suppliers have told Harpers.

Old world wines dominate on-trade in China, new research shows

Wines from France and Italy dominate the on-trade in China, according to the first in-depth research into the Chinese on-trade market.

Bibendum-PLB takes trophy at annual Santa Rita Arsenal event

The annual Santa Rita 120 Arsenal Experience was won this year by a team from Bibendum-PLB.

Consumers shun restaurants at Easter, figures show

Restaurant groups saw sales plummet by nearly 20% this Easter, according to figures from the Coffer Peach Business Tracker.

Guy Woodward: On good breeding in wine

From the moment visitors touch down at Lexington’s Blue Grass airport, they are confronted with stylised images of two of Kentucky’s most prominent industries. The local tourist board seems keener, funnily enough, to promote the state’s whiskies and horses than its other famous export. Compliant stooge that I am, I took in both pursuits over the course of a whistle-stop tour last month.