Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Big debate: How Covid-19 will prove a catalyst for change

Published: 30 July, 2020

Leading suppliers joined Andrew Catchpole in our recent Harnessing the Crisis for Change webinar to look at how Covid-19 will shape the road ahead.

Economics of on-trade supply have “hit a brick wall”

Published: 10 July, 2020

The Covid-19 crisis has stripped bare the precarious economic situation of the on-trade and its supply-side, with a correction in the market necessary to improve profitability.

Quarterly rent day dampens relief over 2 metre relaxation

Published: 23 June, 2020

The quarterly rent due 24 June, just a day after PM Boris Johnson relaxed the 2 metre rule while confirming 4 July reopening for hospitality, comes as a sobering reminder that the on-trade’s woes are far from over.

‘Distancing’ most important to on-trade guests post-lockdown

Published: 19 June, 2020

Having social distancing measures in place has been revealed to be the key concern for consumers when they return to the on-trade post-lockdown, according to new research released by Hallgarten & Novum Wines today.

US on-trade reopening gives near-future glimpse of path ahead for UK

Published: 21 May, 2020

Reduced food and drink ranges, continued off-trade sales, ongoing food take-out, plus the need for support from suppliers to ‘optimise drinks assortments’ are among the main takeaways from a recent Nielsen CGA survey of the US restaurant and bar sectors.

Suppliers seek clarity over support

Published: 07 May, 2020

Key suppliers to the shuttered on-trade have called on the government to help them survive Covid-19, pointing both to clarification on reopening measures and greater financial support.

Spotlight on 2020: Mark Roberts, Lanchester Wines

Published: 16 December, 2019

As we prepare for the new decade, Harpers will be taking the month of December to look back over 2019 and ahead to what the coming year will bring – hopefully full of revived optimism for both politics and the trade.

Digital frontiers

Published: 30 October, 2019

Excel spreadsheets and WhatsApping account reps should be a thing of the past, say the brains behind OnStock, a new online ordering platform for the UK bar trade from the Vanquish and 31Dover team, as Jo Gilbert reports.

Importers collective SPOT portfolio offers streamlined buying

Published: 17 September, 2019

Sometimes the best ideas are the most straight-forward ones; at least that’s the hope of Solano Peña-Lenzi from specialist wine importer Hispamerchants.

Top 50 Drinks Wholesalers

Published: 10 July, 2019

Once again Harpers brings you its annual list of the UK’s leading drinks wholesalers.

On-trade is moving with the times, say suppliers, as Jamie’s and other well-known faces disappear from the high street

Published: 07 June, 2019

The tired, middle of the road, mid-market section of the on-trade is falling away to make way for new, more innovative concepts, suppliers have told Harpers.

Milestone eyes Spanish and Italian wines

Published: 03 August, 2018

Milestone Wines is looking to add two further agencies to the business, its new director of agency sales has said.

Meet the buyers: Doug Wregg, Les Caves De Pyrene

Published: 06 June, 2018

This month’s Meet the Buyers series zones in on some of the best suppliers the to UK’s vibrant on-trade.

We're in the money?

Published: 04 May, 2018

An increasingly competitive retail environment has led to yet another mega-merger, this time between Asda and Sainsbury’s. We ask what this new giant force could have in store for wine

Trade reactions to Conviviality collapse

Published: 29 March, 2018

In light of Conviviality’s fall from grace, following a tumultuous month which saw three profit warnings, its market value tumble, shares suspended and the departure of CEO Diana Hunter, Harpers has gathered opinions from across the drinks industry as the business prepares to file for administration

Liberty buoyant but cautions market will remain tough in 2018

Published: 17 January, 2018

A slowing economy, with falling on-trade sales, smaller lists and people drinking less is the predicted outlook for 2018, according to Liberty Wines managing director David Gleave MW.

UK Agents: are you being served?

Published: 04 January, 2018

I wish to be cremated… one tenth of my ashes shall be given to my agent, as written in my contract,” quipped Groucho Marx of the breed that acts for the stars. Finding humorous quotes at the expense of agents is easy work, whether levelled at the acting or commercial world, with these designated business representatives – popularly the “10 percenters” – coming in for flack for apparently sitting back while counting their cut for little in return.

Drinking Clever

Published: 03 October, 2017

As the on-trade struggles with inflationary pressures, Darren Smith examines how suppliers and restaurants are adapting to meet the challenge

Global supply and brand building

Published: 27 September, 2017

With Europe poised to deliver a vintage shortfall, Andrew Catchpole talks to Rabobank strategist Stephen Rannekleiv about the positive effect for brand builders of a general tightening of global supply

Retail sales slow as Brexit-related inflation bites

Published: 16 June, 2017

Retail sales slowed in May to the lowest annual growth since April 2013 as shoppers begin to feel the impact of price inflation, according to the late Retail Sales bulletin from the Office for National Statistics.