Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Moët Hennessy and Campari enter joint venture

Published: 13 July, 2021

Moët Hennessy and Campari Group have announced the formation of a 50/50 joint venture with the purpose of investing in wines and spirits ecommerce companies.

Industry welcomes lifting of social distancing measures

Published: 13 July, 2021

The industry has welcomed Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s confirmation that social distancing measures will be lifted next week, a move that UK Hospitality (UKH) said would bring “huge relief” for the hospitality sector.

Five minutes with Lee Evans, founder, Condor Wines

Published: 29 June, 2021

Lee Evans set up South America specialist importer Condor Wines with just four Argentine wineries on board in June 2011. On its 10th anniversary he recounts to Andrew Catchpole how it all started and how he’s celebrating.

Pernod Ricard appoints new marketing director

Published: 28 June, 2021

Pernod Ricard UK (PRUK) has appointment Leanne Banks to the position of marketing director, replacing Raja Banerji.

Jerry Lockspeiser: Lessons from the BrewDog affair

Published: 24 June, 2021

“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently.” Warren Buffett

Delivery and takeaway has legs as May sales boom

Published: 17 June, 2021

CGA’s latest Hospitality at Home Tracker shows that takeaway and delivered sales from restaurant and pub groups in GB were 273% higher in May this year versus May 2019, despite the return of eating indoors in the second half of the month.

Former I Heart bods launch own wine business

Published: 15 June, 2021

Two former senior members of Freixenet Copestick’s I Heart team have joined forces to launch their own mainstream wine brand.

UKH: ‘Delay on further relaxation of restrictions will have devastating effect’

Published: 02 June, 2021

Any potential delay on further relaxation of restrictions this month would have a “devastating effect on an already-fragile hospitality sector”, Kate Nicholls, CEO of UK Hospitality (UKH) has said.

Only two in five hospitality business leaders say they’re trading at profit, though confidence is on the rise

Published: 24 May, 2021

Only two in five hospitality businesses are now either trading or are expected to trade at a profit by the end of June, a new survey from CGA and Fourth has revealed.

New Generation acquires Boxford Wine Company

Published: 24 May, 2021

New Generation has acquired the Boxford Wine Company, for an undisclosed sum.

April delivers ‘solid’ outdoor trading for on-trade groups able to open

Published: 14 May, 2021

Managed pub and restaurant groups able to deliver outdoor service managed to deliver 74% of normal sales in April compared with the same period in 2019, but overall sales were 60% down with a majority still closed.

Five minutes with Mickaël Alborghetti

Published: 04 May, 2021

The co-founder of ethical Bordeaux wine distributor Ethic Drinks, grandson of a Burgundian winegrower and son of an environmental activist, tells Lisa Riley the story of the start-up

Jerry Lockspeiser: What business must learn from the European Super League fiasco

Published: 27 April, 2021

The fiasco over football’s proposed European Super League (ESL) has echoes for business everywhere. The issues raised by this failed venture should seep into the nooks and crannies of ancient wine cellars and waft into the boardrooms of drinks corporations across the globe.

Harpers 50 Best Indies 2021 – nominations invited

Published: 23 April, 2021

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

Bringing it All Together at SME business advice summit

Published: 22 April, 2021

Many SMEs have had it particularly tough during the pandemic, with small and medium-sized businesses less likely than their larger rivals to have access to the resources to help guide them through.

Independents roundtable: Creating stronger supplier relations

Published: 20 April, 2021

Looking ahead to a receding pandemic, our recent How to Forge the Best Relationship with Suppliers round table explored how suppliers and merchants can best work together to ensure that the needs of old, new and evolved channels of business can be best capitalised upon and maximised. Andrew Catchpole rounds up the key takeaways

Tech & innovation: Seismic shifts

Published: 14 April, 2021

We’re on the cusp of a new and advanced tech-fuelled era for hospitality as the on-trade begins to reopen, says Jo Gilbert.

Perfect match for Jascots

Published: 06 April, 2021

When the pandemic overwhelmed long-standing merchant Jascots, Freixenet Copestick spotted an opportunity to create the ideal symbiotic relationship. Lisa Riley reports.