Christmas 2021: An optimistic appraisal

The British tabloids have spoken: Christmas 2021 is unlikely to yield much festive cheer. Unfortunately, this isn’t simply press hyperbole – the UK’s food industry is under enormous pressure, while retail supply chains continue to be stymied by a lack of HGV drivers.

Meanwhile, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released a set of data in September which confirmed that the on-trade staffing crisis has not abated. “Sourcing staff has been one of our biggest challenges since we reopened,” says Avinash Shashidhara, head chef at Pali Hill restaurant in London.

Aldi launches premium Winemasters’ Lot wines for festive season

Aldi is introducing a ‘super premium’ wine range, Winemasters’ Lot, in time for the festive season, to complement and build on their Specially Selected selection. The wines will be available from 8 November, available in stores and online.

Rebranding the Languedoc

Premium wines emerging from the Languedoc are shifting perceptions on a global scale, as James Lawrence reports.

Long read: Raising a glass to Australian wines

The UK’s love for Australian wines shows no signs of abating. With good availability, competitive pricing, and good transport and distribution networks, supply from Australia is still extremely attractive for UK buyers and wine drinkers. Here, Paul Braydon, buying controller for Kingsland Drinks, delves into the wine trends emerging from Australia, shares insights on the category post-FTA (Free Trade Agreement), and what the UK drinks sector can expect to see next.

Treasury commits to 100% renewables by 2024

Treasury Wine Estates’ (TWE) brands are joining the RE100 global renewable power initiative, a move which will see the company switch to 100% renewable electricity by 2024 across its global operations.

Distil to invest up to £5m in Ardgowan Distillery

Distil has announced that it will be investing up to £5m into the new eco-friendly Ardgowan Distillery in Inverkip, Scotland.

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.

Premium spirits: Paying the price of lockdown

Long Read: Pushing quality South America

Condor Wines marked its 10th anniversary this June with its South American Discovery Sessions, looking at how far the wines had come in a decade and what the next 10 years might hold for Latin America’s collective vinous offering.

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?

Global alcohol consumption to return to pre-Covid levels by 2023

The global beverage alcohol market is showing positive signs of recovery and is projected to grow 2.9% in volume by the end of 2021, according IWSR research.

Paragon projects three-fold revenue increase following ‘substantial investment’

Paragon Brands has upped its projections for revenue and profit to “a target of £15m” within three years following a major investment by Maison Villevert.

Chile: Time to refocus

At Harpers’ recent Premium Chile webinar, voices from all corners of the trade gathered to have their say, as Lisa Riley reports.

Long Read: A virtual Christmas will pave the course for 2021

While big parties and large gatherings may be off the menu, premium drinks sales are still expected to grow this Christmas thanks to the rise and rise of online channels.

Simpsons looks to launch “super-premium” English Chardonnay

Simpsons English Wine Estate is looking to raise the stakes for still English wines with a limited edition Chardonnay called Q Class.

Accolade snaps up Katnook

Accolade Wines has acquired Coonawarra’s premium Katnook Estate from the Wingara Wine Group for an undisclosed sum.

Apothic adds first single-varietal to range

Premium Californian wine brand Apothic is to add its first single-varietal wine to its portfolio next month.

Premium spirits to defy Covid pressures

Premium-and-above spirits are forecasted to increase their global volume market share to 13% by 2024 as consumers continue to search for “authenticity and status”, according to the IWSR.

Pernod Ricard takes mezcal super premium

French giant Pernod Ricard has grown its stake in the “fast-growing” mezcal segment via Ojo de Tigre, a small-batch spirit made from sustainable agave.

Shakedown looms for English and Welsh spirits

A restructure could be on the cards for the English and Welsh spirits sector, as pressure from an impending recession begins to squeeze brands at either end of the price spectrum. Jo Gilbert reports