Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

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.

London Wine Fair brands ProWein move ‘aggressive’

Published: 20 January, 2022

The London Wine Fair (LWF) organisers have called the new direct clash between their event and a rescheduled ProWein a ‘direct attack’ on the UK’s biggest wine trade show event.

Last call for 30 Under 30 nominations

Published: 17 January, 2022

The final week for nominations is now upon us, with less than five days left to highlight the work of a colleague or to nominate yourself to be in with a chance of appearing in Harpers’ inaugural 30 Under 30 list.

UK hospitality sector endures 'devastating' Christmas period, says new data

Published: 13 January, 2022

Newly released data from UKHospitality and CGA Strategy paints a grim picture for on-trade businesses, with sales in UK pubs, restaurants and bars falling 60% on Christmas Day, 31% on Boxing Day and 27% on New Year’s Eve, when compared to 2019.

Healthy Hospo launches crowdfunding campaign

Published: 11 January, 2022

Not-for-profit organisation Healthy Hospo is calling for donations to enable the charity to further support hospitality workers during this turbulent period.

Hard hit hospitality calls for further government support

Published: 17 December, 2021

As the hospitality industry continues to face a mounting crisis of cancellations and closures in the wake of Omicron and Plan B restrictions, UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls has urged the government to step in and save many businesses from going under.

Kingsland’s Thirsty Earth aims for a “better drinks industry”

Published: 09 December, 2021

In a bid to create a “better society and drinks industry”, Kingsland Drinks has announced its Thirsty Earth sustainability initiative – a new, in-depth programme which includes a long-term project linked to the UN’s sustainable development goals.

Fellows of New Zealand Winegrowers announced for 2021

Published: 03 December, 2021

The New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW) has unveiled the recipients of its Fellows award, which recognises individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the New Zealand wine industry.

South Africa trade slams new travel ban

Published: 29 November, 2021

The international communities’ decision to prohibit travel to South Africa will have “significant implications” for the nation's struggling wine and tourism industries, according to oversight body VinPro.

Soapbox: Richard Lloyd at The Park makes the case for agile supply chains

Published: 22 November, 2021

We hear from Richard Lloyd, general manager for European operations and supply chain at The Park, the hub of Accolade Wines’ European operations and an independent business in its own right, on how the industry can work together to overcome its supply chain difficulties

Hospitality Rising launches recruitment campaign

Published: 18 November, 2021

Hospitality Rising, a collaborative movement dedicated to increasing recruitment levels in the industry, is aiming to raise £5m by running “the biggest hospitality recruitment advertising campaign the world has ever seen”.

English fizz's bawdy move

Published: 17 November, 2021

A month or so ago, I attended two eye-catching, if very different, launches. Both were from Bibendum Wine: the UK debut of former Dom Pérignon chef de cave Richard Geoffroy’s sake; and an unorthodox new English sparkling wine, with the charming name Harlot.

Long read: Chasing formats isn't enough for the Instagram generation

Published: 15 November, 2021

In the past decade, regular wine consumption among 18-34 year olds has fallen by 10% (Wine Intelligence), which could indicate trouble for the sector in the future. Alex Green, co-founded wine distributor Beyond Wines after working with business partner Matt Johnson at Copestick Murray where they worked on i heart and Freixenet. Here, he explores why wine brands are failing to engage the younger demographic and where they stand to make the biggest wins.

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.