Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Women in drinks create first-of-its-kind network

Published: 03 July, 2024

Female leaders from across the drinks trade have come together to launch a new business network aimed at driving inclusivity for women.

Businesses face uncertain future with general election

Published: 02 July, 2024

With issues such as cash flow, VAT, businesses rates and staffing all placing continued strain on the UK drinks industry, businesses have just a few days left to decide which parties’ pledges have the best hope of steering the sector towards prosperity.

Soapbox: Why is the government so disinterested in the wine trade?

Published: 19 December, 2023

The Wine Society CEO Steve Finlan calls out the government’s lack of engagement with the hard-pressed UK drinks trade.

Government has “failed” the industry – now extend alcohol duty relief

Published: 16 May, 2023

Industry chiefs have expressed a modicum of optimism about potential changes to the current plans for the new duty escalator, which could possibly avoid plunging businesses into a tangle of red tape – if only the government continues (or maybe begins) to listen to reason.

New Zealand Winegrowers announces brand overhaul

Published: 11 January, 2023

New Zealand Winegrowers has unveiled a new logo and global brand identity, rolled out across the organisation's key international markets.

Soapbox: Battling the behemoths

Published: 17 November, 2022

Nick Gillett, MD of Mangrove UK, on the uphill battle smaller brands face with ever more powerful players dominating the industry.

Nick Gillett: Regulating spirits – a system with no sense

Published: 02 November, 2022

I like to think I’m a man with common sense. Yet, when I look at the stifling, strangling system of regulations we face as an industry in the UK, I see absolutely zero of it.

Nick Gillett: Greenwashing – are you looking a little grubby?

Published: 03 October, 2022

‘Net Zero’, ‘Carbon reduction’, ‘Sustainability’, and ‘Offsetting’ – all good stuff and we’re now used to bandying these terms around like they’re going out of fashion. But whilst brands are waxing lyrical about their green credentials and how they’re busy saving the planet, how many actually are?

Whether intentionally or not, more than a few drinks brands at best ‘polishing’ their green credentials to look better than they are – and some are just lying. Beyond misleading conscious consumers and reaping undeserved competitive advantages, it pisses me off, because it’s actively halting the industry’s Net Zero progress which is where we should be placing our focus.

WineGB tasting looks to capitalise on rising sales

Published: 15 August, 2022

WineGB will be returning to London this September for a celebration of all things English wine – including another year of rising sales.

English wine comes of age at the UK’s wine ‘BAFTAs’

Published: 18 July, 2022

English and Welsh wine appears to have entered a new era of maturity, as ‘newcomers’ to the scene continue to rake in accolades alongside more established names.

Soapbox: Can the wine industry survive desertification?

Published: 14 July, 2022

Nenad Trifunovic, director of business development at Wine & More, reflects on the future of a sector that is already feeling the heat.

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.

‘Critical’ staff shortages costs hospitality £21bn in trade

Published: 23 June, 2022

Staff shortages in the hospitality industry are reaching critical levels and causing nearly half (45%) of operators to cut trading hours or capacity in order to cope, a new survey has said.

Drinks industry welcomes new personnel in spring reshuffle

Published: 21 March, 2022

Several headline spirit businesses have announced new staff appointments in March, including the Cotswolds Distillery and Mangrove UK.

Latest labour market stats underline urgent need for hospitality recruitment

Published: 16 February, 2022

Using the latest ONS labour market statistics published today, UKHospitality has produced data showing that current vacancies in hospitality are more than 100% higher than the corresponding pre-Covid period.

Highest volumes of Champagne produced for 10 years

Published: 16 February, 2022

Since March 2020 the Champagne market has been on ice, with little cause for celebration during a global pandemic that has reduced so many gatherings and engagements to a Zoom call.

Bourgogne Wine Board announces landmark collaboration to achieve carbon neutral status

Published: 11 February, 2022

The Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) has enlisted the help of Paris-based waste management firm Adelphe, working together to develop an overarching strategic vision to achieve carbon neutral status by 2050.

Soapbox: Why sustainability makes perfect business sense

Published: 10 February, 2022

Mariella Menato, strategy director at drinks design specialist Denomination, talks about the rise of sustainability as a key consumer requirement, and why today, more than ever, it is vital for business success, as well as safeguarding our planet.

South Africa anticipates reduced grape harvest in 2022

Published: 24 January, 2022

As vintage 2022 approches, South Africa's winegrowers are expecting a relatively small crop overall, when compared to last year.

South Africa's wine industry “must adapt to survive”

Published: 21 January, 2022

Wine oversight body Vinpro has urged South Africa’s winegrowers to use the pandemic crisis as an opportunity “to revive, recover and rebuild,” adapting current business models to better cope with a rapidly changing world.