Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Indies Survey 2025: uncertainty reigns

Published: 07 March, 2025

As the usual business headwinds seemingly turn to a howling gale, we once again
ask the independent merchants’ sector for their take on what the year ahead holds.

Tech: Clarify and collaborate

Published: 11 November, 2024

Sustainability has without a doubt become a cornerstone of the modern wine industry. In just a few short years, this unifying topic has seen disparate parts of the supply chain seemingly reach a consensus that the upward march of change must occur in all parts of the sector – and fast. How to achieve this, however, is less clear.

Analysis: Blurring boundaries

Published: 07 October, 2024

Crossover products are challenging the traditional roles of drinks, offering producers opportunities to attract new consumers. James Bayley reports.

Private label growth for wine & Champagne continues

Published: 02 May, 2024

Private label is stealing a march across Europe, with retailer’s own offerings outperforming national brands across all the major alcohol categories in terms of value.

Northern Ireland retailers welcome business rates announcement

Published: 17 February, 2022

Independent retailers in Northern Ireland have cautiously welcomed the announcement that non-domestic rates are to be frozen for the next financial year and that businesses will still receive a three-month rates holiday.

January online retail growth lowest ever as BWS sales fall

Published: 15 February, 2022

January saw the lowest rate of online retail growth ever at a slump of -24.4%, according to the IMRG Capgemini Online Retail Index, which tracks the online sales performance for over 200 retailers. At category level, beer, wine and spirits fell even further, reaching an average of -26.6%.

Australian wine brand removes over 10 million plastic bottles from world oceans

Published: 08 February, 2022

The Hidden Sea, founded by Aussie rules football star-turned-winemaker Richie Vandenberg and Justin Moran in 2021, and brought into the UK by Kingsland Drinks, has achieved a major sustainability milestone by removing the equivalent of more than 10 million single-use plastic bottles from the ocean.

UK importer launches distribution service for canned wines

Published: 26 January, 2022

Propeller, the hybrid importer founded by Jamie Wynne-Griffiths in 2020, is embracing new formats with the launch of The Can Collective.

Indies: Fighting fit?

Published: 17 January, 2022

Adaptability has been key for indies that have sought not just to survive, but to thrive, as Angela Mount reports.

Scotland announces DRS implementation date

Published: 15 December, 2021

Scotland's Minister for green skills, circular economy and biodiversity has confirmed that the nation's inaugural Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will launch next year.

Esoteric but firmly grounded

Published: 10 November, 2021

How new wave Spain is building a repertoire of modern, terroir-driven classics. By Ines Salpico.

Wines of Germany launches Retailer Partners competition

Published: 27 September, 2021

Wines of Germany has launched an innovative scheme to encourage UK independents to spread the word about Germany’s vinous offering.

BWS grocery sales decline 6%

Published: 24 August, 2021

Beer, wine and spirits (BWS) sales through supermarkets continued to slide in the four weeks ending 14 August 2021, down 6% compared with the same period last year, according to Total Till data from NielsenIQ released today.

Online BWS sales shoot up again

Published: 10 August, 2021

Online beer, wine and spirits (BWS) sales shot up once again, posting 29.9% year-on-year growth in July compared to the previous month, according to the latest IMRG Capgemini Online Retail Index released today.

Online BWS sales soar 52%

Published: 14 July, 2021

Online beer, wine and spirits (BWS) sales soared the week commencing 27 June as England prepared to play Germany for a place in Euro 2020.

Wines of Portugal promo boosts independent sales

Published: 08 July, 2021

Wines of Portugal is reportting sales uplift of +286% in volume and +300% in value at participating retailers that were specially selected for June’s month-long promotion.

Rioja extends reach to restaurants for October celebration

Published: 01 July, 2021

Spain’s flagship region is launching Rioja Wine Month this October, inviting restaurants to join with independent merchants in a UK-wide promotion ahead of the Christmas trading period.

Italy Report: Supping on the south

Published: 24 June, 2021

Characterful and alluringly individual, Italy’s southern wines are on the rise, gaining more recognition for the blend of quality and value they can deliver. With all of this plugging into current consumer drinking trends, Andrew Catchpole surveyed a handful of Italophile importers and retailers to discover if the south’s time has arrived.

Retailers ‘cautiously optimistic’ about festive shopping season

Published: 12 November, 2020

Retailers are feeling “cautiously optimistic” about the festive shopping season, despite uncertainty around physical store openings and holiday sales patterns, according to Capgemini research released today.

‘Shop out to help out’ scheme needed for small retailers

Published: 02 November, 2020

Extra help is needed to support small, independent retailers through a second lockdown, including a ‘Shop out to help out’ scheme and a cashflow windfall, it has been suggested.