Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Soapbox: Inheritance conundrum

Published: 01 October, 2025

New tax rules are putting businesses in a complex and puzzling situation while simultaneously threatening their survival, says Caroline Cleary, director, Lanchester Wines.

Hallgarten appoints Julien Lever to new head of operations role

Published: 30 September, 2025

Wine importer Hallgarten & Novum Wines has announced the hiring of Julien Lever to the newly created role of head of operations.

The Wine Society: Alex Turnbull appointed head of fine wine

Published: 29 September, 2025

The Wine Society has announced the appointment of Alex Turnbull to the newly created role of head of fine wine. He joins the merchant in January 2026.

Nick Gillett: Sticks, carrots and sustainability in the spirits sector

Published: 29 September, 2025

There was a time where every other headline in spirits industry publications read ‘sustainability’, but it’s not been that way for quite some time. Thanks to the economic headwind we’re all facing (businesses and consumers alike) sustainability has very much slipped down the agenda. Because how can you prioritise the environment in your business, if said business doesn’t survive?

Bibendum-owner C&C sees revenue drop in first half of financial year

Published: 18 September, 2025

Irish drinks company C&C Group has reported its trading for the first half of the financial year to 31 August 2025. The business saw net revenues drop 4% compared to last year, in line with its expectations for the period.

Jerry Lockspeiser: What is the point of a business?

Published: 11 September, 2025

What is the point of a business? Who is it for? The people who started it, those working in it, the investors, the customers? The answer is all of those and more, but the core responsibility for defining the point (and it is quite a responsibility) lies with the owners and senior managers.

Navigating the uncertain world of family business succession

Published: 15 August, 2025

Seasoned veterans of the trade know the phenomenon all too well: there are few tasks more daunting – or more critical – than the delicate management of family succession. With persistent inflation, shrinking margins and declining consumption, the long game of generational transfer has never felt more precarious. Some businesses may even face the uncomfortable reality that their children do not want to take over – or that the numbers simply no longer stack up.

Soho House results show healthy rise in revenue

Published: 11 August, 2025

Soho House has released its second quarter results, showing total revenue up 8.9% to $329.8m (£244.9m) on the same period last year, and membership revenues up 15.9% to $118.6 million (£88m).

Jerry Lockspeiser: The poor leadership issue facing businesses and nations

Published: 18 July, 2025

Every Monday I look forward to the weekly email from TEN popping into my inbox. TEN is a strategic leadership consultancy founded by William Montgomery, a former navigating officer of HMS Ark Royal and Head of Strategic Change at Lloyds TSB.

Wine & Sprit Trade Association publishes industry guide

Published: 18 July, 2025

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has published a ‘go-to guide’ for the industry, aimed at helping policy makers and politicians “better understand” the UK wine and spirit market.

Good Wine Good People announces crowdfunding initiative

Published: 02 July, 2025

Online wine retailer and wholesaler Good Wine Good People (GWGP) has announced a fresh crowdfunding round in a bid to expand the business.

Jerry Lockspeiser: Three key business issues we ignore at our peril

Published: 25 June, 2025

Three seemingly unconnected business issues thrust themselves into my mind recently. Thinking about them later I realised that far from being unconnected, their combination provides a useful guide to being successful – and more urgently, avoiding the risk of almost certain failure.

April drop in hospitality insolvencies though warning signs remain

Published: 23 June, 2025

Fresh data from the UK Government’s company insolvency statistics can reveal that insolvencies in the accommodation and food services sector were down 12% year on year for April, with 275 going bust during the month.

The art of designing a strong wine programme

Published: 06 June, 2025

After 25 years in the wine and hospitality trade across the UK and Australia, I’ve come to learn this: the wine list should never be an afterthought. A wine list isn’t just about what’s in the glass – it’s a reflection of how well your whole business is thinking.

WineFi recruits Matthew Small as head of investment

Published: 05 June, 2025

The wine investment company WineFi has added Matthew Small (pictured, right) to its team as head of investment.

One third of UK hospitality businesses operating at a loss

Published: 02 June, 2025

A third of hospitality businesses are operating at a loss and are at risk of failure, according to a survey carried out by UK Hospitality, The British Institute of Innkeeping, the British Beer & Pub Association and Hospitality Ulster.

IWSR expects global drinks trade to grow by $16bn

Published: 29 May, 2025

Data from IWSR predicts that the global drinks industry will grow by USD $16bn over the next five years. The positive outlook contrasts to the relative stagnation the global trade saw in 2024.

AWL announces creation of new global wine company Vinarchy

Published: 30 April, 2025

Australian Wine Holdco Limited (AWL), the consortium of institutional investors, has announced the creation of a new global wine company, Vinarchy. The announcement signals the finalisation of the sale of Pernod Ricard’s international wine portfolio to AWL.

Diageo GB announces new marketing and innovation director

Published: 30 April, 2025

Drinks giant Diageo Great Britain has announced the appointment of Ursula Mejía Melgar as its new marketing and innovation director. The role will see the new director responsible for shaping leading brands including Guiness, Smirnoff and Gordon’s in the UK market.

Robin Copestick joins Packamama board

Published: 28 April, 2025

Climate-friendly packaging company Packamama has appointed I Heart wine brand founder and Friexenet Copestick MD Robin Copestick as a non-executive director to its board.