Scottish trade hails reopening but raises concerns for the future

The hospitality sector has welcomed news that Scotland will be easing Covid-19 restrictions from next week but has called for more clarity on the details.

Big G trade sessions returns next week

The Big G, the annual Wines of Germany’s trade show, is back in partnership with Harpers Wine & Spirit... but not as you know it.

Premium spirits: Paying the price of lockdown

Oz wine exports to UK highest in a decade

Australian wine exports to the UK reached their highest level in a decade during the 2020–21 financial year, according to the latest Wine Australia Export Report released today.

Scotland urged to drop social distancing measures

The Scottish licensed trade has welcomed yesterday’s announcement for the further loosening of Covid restrictions, but warns that the expected date of 19 July for all of Scotland to move into Level 0 with a more substantial winding down from 9 August still presents challenges and concerns.

Ageism in hospitality

Staff shortages in the hospitality industry have reached alarming levels, but will employers relax their natural tendency to favour younger workers and take on older people instead?

Cask whisky specialist eyes Asian market

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.