Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Shop Rioja back for 2016

Published: 27 June, 2016

Shop Rioja is back for another countrywide promotion in October's edition of Harpers in partnership with Wines from Rioja, and is inviting all UK independent merchants to take part.

The Drinks Roadshow stopping off in Edinburgh tomorrow

Published: 27 June, 2016

There is one more day to take us up on our open invitation to visit the Harpers and The Drinks Wholesaler team when our free trade event stops off in Edinburgh tomorrow (June 28).

Multi-mullion pound campaign promotes Kopparberg's craft roots

Published: 24 June, 2016

The team behind leading Swedish fruit cider Kopparberg has launched a multi-million pound marketing campaign to draw attention to its hometown brewery.

Brexit: A good day for English wine?

Published: 24 June, 2016

English wine might be the only clear beneficiaries of today's referendum debacle as importers look to the domestic marketplace instead of the Eurozone.

Off-Piste low-alcohol range listed in Sainsbury's

Published: 23 June, 2016

A new range of lightly sparkling drinks aimed at women has found its first listing in Sainsbury's.

Morrions pledge to take My Local employees following administration talks

Published: 23 June, 2016

My Local stores are on the verge of folding just nine months after 140 stores were sold to new chief executive Mike Green.

Second quarter of growth for Tesco

Published: 23 June, 2016

Like-for-like sales are up at FTSE 100 giant Tesco, where sales grew by 0.9% for the 13 weeks to 28 May 2016.

Waitrose and Iceland shoppers at opposite ends of the leave/remain spectrum

Published: 23 June, 2016

Research has painted a picture of how shoppers at the UK's biggest supermarkets are likely to vote in today's referendum.

DHL Tradeteam expands logistics infrastructure with new warehouse

Published: 23 June, 2016

Tradeteam, the drinks distribution arm of DHL Supply Chain, has opened new warehousing premises in the south of England to keep up with "strong regional demand in the area".

Is the trade turning a blind eye to Brexit's silver-linings?

Published: 22 June, 2016

When asked if there could be any merit from a leave result following tomorrow's referendum, the resounding voice from the trade is 'no'.

Vinho Verde grows up as producers focus in on quality and single variety wines

Published: 22 June, 2016

More than the Alentejo, more even perhaps than Douro, Vinho Verde is Portuguese wine's big success story, boasting a name and style recognition that is the envy of other wine regions.

The orange myth - why everyone is still confused about orange wine

Published: 22 June, 2016

"Orange is not the new rosé," says Doug Wregg at Les Caves de Pyrene. "It would be more accurate to say it's the new red."

Drink led outlets outperformed casual dining chains last month

Published: 22 June, 2016

Drink led pubs fared better than casual dining outlets last month according to most recent figures released by Coffer Peach Business Tracker.

Jim Beam distributors invest £1m in new category vision

Published: 22 June, 2016

The UK's biggest whisky distributor is looking to capture a larger slice of the £90bn spirits category by turning their portfolio strategy on its head.

Launching 31 Days of German Riesling

Published: 21 June, 2016

At last night's launch of 31 Days of German Riesling, Harpers spoke to Lea and Sandeman, who are now in a position to immerse themselves fully in the campaign following a soft trial last year.

C-stores: How to convert top-up shoppers into loyal customers

Published: 21 June, 2016

Convenience retailing is on the rise, with consumers looking to buy 'top-up' or 'meal for tonight' rapidly replacing the weekly shop.

New Zealand's 2016 harvest expected to be 34% larger

Published: 21 June, 2016

As the 2016 harvest draws to a close in New Zealand, growers are reporting an excellent vintage with yields up 34% compared to last year's smaller than average harvest.

17% of venues not stocking Chardonnay although it's still the on-trade's biggest seller

Published: 20 June, 2016

A new report suggests that the trade isn't listening to the needs of its customers, with a damaging gap emerging between the nation's favourite drinks and what are on wine lists.

Cocktail expectations are "on the march", says Matthew Clark

Published: 20 June, 2016

Pigs-in-blanket cocktails might seem like a bridge too far for most bartenders, but it this kind of far-reaching innovation which is capturing consumers imagination says Matthew Clark.

Majestic Wine sales soar, but profits slide

Published: 20 June, 2016

Majestic's financial year 2016 results show that while reported sales increased 41.3% to £402.1m, adjusted profits before taxes declined 30.3% to £15.0m for the same period as the company invests in a three-year transformational plan.