SME distillers call for duty freeze to prevent the British gin bubble from bursting

Britain’s gin makers are calling on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to freeze spirit duty and extend hospitality’s VAT cut to alcoholic drinks to help boost British business.

Trade groups call for PM to keep VAT at 12.5% to help economic recovery

A coalition of the country’s hospitality, tourism trade and membership bodies has called on the Prime Minister to keep VAT low for businesses to help them play their part in the Government’s levelling-up and job creation agenda.

Côtes de Bordeaux to host virtual trade training event

A dedicated virtual trade training event to explore the wines of Côtes de Bordeaux is being held on 19 October 2021.

Alliance Wine strengthens team with new appointments

Alliance Wine has revealed it has strengthened its business with two new appointments.

Brits hoover up Portuguese wine as loss of tourism shows the “Portuguese don’t drink Port”

As the biggest consumers of wine per capita globally, it might be expected that domestic sales of Portuguese wines would have fared well over the course of the pandemic, where drinkers globally were largely turned onto local vinous offerings.

Navarra targets UK with new consumer and trade campaign

Spain's Navarra region is launching a new trade and consumer campaign in the UK this autumn, run in collaboration with PR firm Bespoke Drinks Media.

Future-proofing the on-trade

With the buffeting the on-trade has received it’s hardly surprising that many are talking about ongoing change, as Andrew Catchpole asks what form that may take.

WSTA Summit: Beale outlines path for trade recovery

In his opening address at the WSTA Industry Summit 2021, CEO Miles Beale took an imaginary look back at the past decade from 2031 to highlight the lobbying and initiatives that the industry body has planned or instigated.

UK’s 50 Best Indies 2021: 31-50

Welcome to the release of our second tranche of our 50 Best Indies list, from 31-40, also featuring all of those that have made it into the 31-50 ranking so far.

31 Days of German Riesling award winners revealed

Wines of Germany has unveiled the winners of its 31 Days of German Riesling campaign, an annual event that brings all sectors of the trade together.

SITT’s Spotlight On to shine on Portugal

Portugal is to take the Spotlight On spot at SITT this autumn, with a dedicated zone featuring 20 leading producers and importers.

Spirits boost drinks sales recovery while wine trails behind

Drinks sales have continued to edge further back towards pre-Covid levels in August, with spirits emerging as the leading category helping to catapult the on-trade towards recovery.

Big G debate ‘A Wine for all Reasons’ rallies Germany’s champions

Readers are invited to register for the closing debate of this year’s Wines of Germany Big G virtual event, featuring experts in the field from across the trade, at 3pm on Tuesday 10 August.

Exploring alternative premium whites

Modern food and lifestyle choices often naturally lend themselves to white wine, but is the trade doing enough to encourage consumers to trade up and seek out premium choices beyond the usual suspects? In a world where reds often hold top spot, Andrew Catchpole invited a panel to discuss how to better capitalise on and communicate the USPs of alternative higher-end whites, to inspire and broaden consumers’ repertoire, to the benefit of both trade and punter alike. DO Rías Baixas provided the sponsorship and wines in order to whet appetites for the session.

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?