Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Mitchells & Butlers adds 'skinny' sparkling wine to its menu

Published: 22 March, 2017

Mitchells & Butlers is hoping to entice calorie-conscious drinkers by adding a 'skinny' sparkling wine to its menu.

"Worrying" times for Sainsbury's as supermarket points to unstable climate for sales set-back

Published: 16 March, 2017

Sainsbury's has warned of "very competitive" trading conditions in the wake of the post-Brexit sterling slump as the supermarket suffered a slight sales decline in the fourth quarter of the financial year.

Lidl reports rapid growth for wine category

Published: 08 March, 2017

With a global turnover of over £70billion, and trading operations in 28 countries, the Lidl empire is continuing to grow in the UK, with 35 new stores opening in 2016, and a further 50 planned for this year.

Grocery market share for discounters hits record 12%

Published: 07 March, 2017

The march of the discounters continues as £1 in every £8 spent on groceries is now spent in either Aldi or Lidl.

Sales of fizz breaks Christmas barrier of 45 million bottles for first time

Published: 06 March, 2017

Sales of sparkling set yet another benchmark in the run up to Christmas, with sparkler-hungry Brits quaffing 10% more than usual in the off-trade and 37% in the on-trade.

Chilean wine hits the spot with convenience shoppers

Published: 27 February, 2017

The convenience channel has posted a near 20% leap in sales in an overall flat UK category.

Viña Santa Rita partners with National Gallery for art-inspired collaboration

Published: 24 February, 2017

Top Chilean label Viña Santa Rita has paired up with London's National Gallery for a three-year partnership linking wine and art.

Asda shows some recovery after troublesome 2016

Published: 23 February, 2017

Asda bosses said there is still a "lot of work to do" after the most recent sales figures showed some recovery for the ailing supermarket.

'Progrigio' - the new budget Prosecco?

Published: 20 February, 2017

Prosecco has long been regarded the low-price equivalent of Champagne for those looking for bubbles on a budget.

Supermarket sweep: A week in review

Published: 17 February, 2017

On the international stage, the big news this week has been dominated by an increasingly maddening number of acronyms and portmanteaus - CETA, Brexit, TTIP - as the top echelon of global businesses and governments on both sides of the Atlantic make decisions which will impact the immediate future of the trade.

The week that was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

Published: 17 February, 2017

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have put together a review of the top online news, Q&As, and opinion stories.

Own-brand Prosecco grows 79% year-on-year at Lidl

Published: 13 February, 2017

Sky-high sales of Prosecco helped Dry January to get off to a damp start in 2017.

Changing perceptions at Davy's Wine Merchants

Published: 13 February, 2017

Many will have fond memories of Davy's wine bars, which throughout the 1970s and 1980s was at the forefront of the emerging wine bar craze

Aldi launches fine wine range with budget price tag after being named the UK's fifth largest supermarket

Published: 13 February, 2017

Aldi is moving up in the world.

The week that was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

Published: 10 February, 2017

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have put together a review of the top online news, Q&As, and opinion stories.

Waitrose re-structure to close six of its struggling stores

Published: 09 February, 2017

Upmarket grocer Waitrose has announced a major re-structure of its stores and management teams in a move to "flexible branch team working".

Guy Woodward: Why is the wine trade still slow to deliver fulfilment?

Published: 09 February, 2017

As a middle-aged, middle-class man, my weekly highlight is Saturday morning, illuminated by a warm croissant (180ºC for eight minutes, served with passion fruit curd), a Nespresso coffee (medium froth, Ristretto pod) plus the weekend papers - and here's the most indulgent part - delivered to the door.

Not such a Dry January at the supermarkets

Published: 07 February, 2017

It was more a case of Try January rather than Dry January at multiples last month as shoppers stocked up on alcohol despite the trend moving towards healthier shopping habits.