Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Shop Rioja is back this October

Published: 07 August, 2020

As cooler days and cosier nights roll in this autumn, Shop Rioja is once again calling on independent merchants to join its October campaign.

Retaining the online bonanza

Published: 04 August, 2020

With life returning to a version of normality, independents that gained extra sales are now once more facing their old competitors. Lisa Riley finds out how they are coping

Harpers teams up with Loire Valley for indies promotion

Published: 25 June, 2020

Loire Valley Wines is once again to run its popular Independent Wine Merchant promotion this Autumn.

"Impressive" online drinks uplift here to stay

Published: 08 June, 2020

The influx of new online shoppers looks set to be sustainable, with alcoholic drinks to the fore of this growth in ecommerce.

Alcohol sales knocked back until 2022

Published: 04 June, 2020

Despite the shift from on-trade to home drinking, lockdown could still leave a sobering £7bn hole in UK alcohol sales this year.

Indie merchants look to nurture new trade ahead of economic slump

Published: 29 May, 2020

With lockdown easing and non-essential shops beginning to reopen from 15 June, the independent merchant sector is increasingly planning ways of achieving some semblance of ‘normal’ store opening, while balancing health considerations with marked changes in trading conditions.

Indies: Retaining new customers once ‘normality’ resumes

Published: 15 May, 2020

With the on-trade on lockdown, indies have reaped rewards from the pandemic, but will they be able to hang on to their new customers once restrictions are lifted? Lisa Riley investigates.

Berry Bros supports “hardest struck” smaller wine producers

Published: 27 April, 2020

Berry Bros & Rudd (BBR) has revealed an initiative to support some of the small family businesses hit by the Covid-19 crisis.

Staples bolsters Lay & Wheeler senior team

Published: 23 April, 2020

Lay & Wheeler has bolstered its senior team with the immediate addition of Simon Staples and Catherine Petrie MW.

Lanchester launches ‘enhanced service’ to support indies

Published: 14 April, 2020

Lanchester Wines has launched a specialist service to help support indies during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Jancis Robinson MW reaches out to hospitality workers

Published: 08 April, 2020

Jancis Robinson MW has reached out to hospitality workers by giving industry professional free access to all of JancisRobinson.com.

Berry Bros signs up as MND Association charity partner, following colleague's diagnosis

Published: 06 April, 2020

Berry Bros & Rudd has selected Motor Neurone Disease Association (MND Association) as it’s charity partner for the next three years.

Independents: Open to trade

Published: 03 April, 2020

With merchants fast adapting to survive, Andrew Catchpole surveyed the indie scene to discover how companies are adapting.

Harpers 50 Best Indies 2020 – now open for nominations

Published: 25 March, 2020

We are once again launching our annual 50 Best Indies Awards, to recognise the best in the business of indie drinks retailing.

Majestic shops to stay temporarily closed

Published: 25 March, 2020

Majestic has announced its shops are to remain temporarily closed despite the government having added off-licenses to its list of ‘essential’ businesses.

Cambridge indies react to coronavirus uncertainty

Published: 20 March, 2020

Cambridge-based Chris Wilson gets on his bike for a taste of what it’s like for those at the sharp end of wine retail.

Coronaviris: Harpers to assist business with exchange of ideas, advice and information

Published: 16 March, 2020

In response to the advancing coronavirus crisis, the Harpers team is asking off and on-trade business, large and small, to share strategies and initiatives designed to help drive commercial activity and sales through a period of unprecedented disruption and uncertainty.

Indies: Food for thought

Published: 04 March, 2020

Thinking of offering a hybrid experience? Andrew Catchpole asks two quite different operators how they balance being both a wine merchant and a bar

Shipping direct: One foot in the vineyard

Published: 03 February, 2020

There are pros and cons to buying direct, but there are certainly reasons indies should consider the option, as Andrew Catchpole reports.

Looking back on a decade - Part one

Published: 23 January, 2020

2010-2020 delivered incredible change on both a domestic and an international level. The Harpers team peers back at some of the key stories that continue to shape today’s trade