Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

IWSR acquired by WGSN

Published: 05 June, 2025

Drinks industry data and insights provider IWSR has been acquired by trend forecasting company WGSN.

Research shows hospitality has worst hourly pay of any UK industry

Published: 22 May, 2025

Analysis of ONS data on average hours worked and median average pay by experts at money.co.uk shows that the hospitality sector offers the worst hourly pay of any UK industry.

Our 30 Under 30 winners have their say on the indie sector

Published: 07 May, 2025

The spring weather finally bounced into view at the end of last month, coinciding with a less-than-sunny outlook for UK businesses via Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement. In the lead up to Reeves’ address, there was hope that businesses would be given a reprieve from the tax hikes announced in the last Autumn Budget. In the end, the 26 March statement was labelled a missed opportunity for failing to reduce, or even scrap, the increases announced in October 2024.

IWSR data: Luxury spirits rise bucks market trends

Published: 18 April, 2025

Growth spots in the global spirits industry are offering an encouraging counter-picture to the moribund health of wine sales – although the category is having to come to grips with challenges impacting long-term premiumisation trends and the instability of major markets such as China.

South America Report: Argentine and Chilean exports in numbers

Published: 28 March, 2025

Argentina: Premium ambitions

UK bucks global underage drinking trend

Published: 27 March, 2025

Data from the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking’s (IARD) 2025 Report on Underage Drinking can reveal that since 2010, underage drinking has fallen or stabilised in 58% of the 66 countries analysed. Included within this cohort are countries for whom there were reductions of underage drinking of 40% or more including Australia, the US and Japan.

UKH: Narrow focus on growth leads to poor social outcomes

Published: 24 March, 2025

Analysis from UKHospitality’s (UKH) new Social Productivity Index highlights that the most economically productive sectors deliver the least social value. By contrast, sectors such as hospitality, are most effective at delivering growth more evenly across the country, ensuring social and geographic accessibility.

IWSR data: Global wine sales portray industry turbulence

Published: 13 March, 2025

An emerging global data picture courtesy of the IWSR shows that wine sales are diverging from that of spirits, beer and ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages, as alcohol spend around the world continues to lag behind disposable income.

Indies Survey 2025: uncertainty reigns

Published: 07 March, 2025

As the usual business headwinds seemingly turn to a howling gale, we once again
ask the independent merchants’ sector for their take on what the year ahead holds.

Live-Ex: Market confidence in Burgundy remains low

Published: 06 March, 2025

Data from Live-Ex, the fine wine trading platform, shows that over the past two years, the Burgundy 150, (which collates the performance of the top 150 Burgundian wines on the platform), was down 30.2%. This is the largest drop of any sub-index within the Live-Ex's Fine Wine 1000.

Spanish wine sees slight growth in export value for 2024

Published: 24 February, 2025

Spanish wine producers increased their overall value of exports by €41 million in 2024, though the total volume of exported wines fell by 1,010,000hls. The UK remains the largest export market for Spanish wine.

Hospitality trade sees growth again in December

Published: 13 February, 2025

New data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) can reveal hospitality had another strong month in December 2024, with output for the food and drink sector growing 2%. This made it the largest contributor to growth for the wider consumer-facing services industry.

Drinks list expansions sound note of cautious optimism post-Covid

Published: 15 February, 2023

Encouraging new data has shown that menus are re-expanding again following a period of contraction and rationalisation during the worst months of Covid.

Profile: Virgin’s positive mission

Published: 20 September, 2022

With his relaxed style and ample enthusiasm, Jay Wright certainly doesn’t fit the old stereotype of a wine trade CEO. As the boss of one of the more successful online retailers, though, he is clear about the vision and values that underpin the popularity of Virgin Wines. And much of that comes down to what he believes the company – and, by extension, the wider drinks trade – actually sells.

Britain’s cities back in growth as spend and inflation rise

Published: 27 June, 2022

Out-of-home food and drink sales are in growth in all of Britain’s 10 biggest city centres, with higher spend-per-visit driving growth rather than footfall.

Connected packaging revs up

Published: 07 January, 2022

At any one time, there are an average of seven trillion pieces of packaging in the world. The opportunities offered by technology to engage with consumers via the bottle are only just getting started, says Jo Gilbert.

CGA report hints at hospitality recovery

Published: 15 November, 2021

New data released by CGA Strategy offers a glimpse of a beleaguered industry in resurgence, with total sales rising in Britain's managed pubs, restaurants and bars.

Hospitality is in ‘peril’ and ‘fighting’ for survival

Published: 12 November, 2021

The hospitality sector is “an industry in peril” that is fighting for its life, the latest edition of the UKHospitality (UKH) and CGA Quarterly Tracker has said.

Cork claims high ground on premium price and climate

Published: 03 November, 2021

Sealing wine with natural cork rather than screwcap can drive higher returns, according to data from Nieslen in a report commissioned by The Portuguese Cork Association.

Building a wine subscription model

Published: 25 October, 2021

The traditional wine club has gone online and re-emerged as a strong subscription proposition for businesses of all shapes and sizes, as Jo Gilbert reports from Harpers’ SITT panel discussion.