Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

New hire at Percy Fox as Diageo looks to build on-trade wine sales

Published: 22 February, 2013

Diageo has appointed Matt Bream as category development manager of its Percy Fox & Co wine business.

Q&A: Andrew Bewes, managing director of Hallgarten Druitt

Published: 15 February, 2013

Richard Siddle talks to the Hallgarten chief about its recent senior management shake-up and what it means for the future of the business

Speed dating with the suppliers

Published: 05 February, 2013

Can PLB convince you it's got what it takes to be your ideal match? Simon Brook, head of PLB's specialist division, explains why he's committed to the independent sector.

Sales up as PLB sets sight on indies and on-trade

Published: 04 February, 2013

Wine importer PLB Group has reported a double-digit rise in sales after increasing its distribution and selling a greater range of products to existing customers.

What can suppliers learn from the demise of Thierry's?

Published: 01 February, 2013

Thierry's was one of several wine businesses to fall foul of the tough economic climate last year. Elinor Zuke takes a look at what went wrong for the wine agency and how suppliers can learn from its collapse

Maxxium boosts on-trade training team

Published: 29 January, 2013

Maxxium UK has appointed two trainers to its spirits and cocktails training scheme - Mixxit.

Speed dating with the suppliers

Published: 18 January, 2013

Ehrmanns is committed to serving the needs of the independent sector and could be just the supplier you're looking for. Find out in this quickfire Q&A round with Mark Motley, director of Ehrmanns Independent Selection.

Ooberstock secures £600k funding to grow business

Published: 15 January, 2013

Online Amazon-style wholesaler Ooberstock has secured £600,000 in a second round of fundraising to take the business to the next level of growth.

Bancroft Wines lines up newcomers for annual tasting

Published: 07 January, 2013

Bancroft Wines is claiming to hold its "most comprehensive portfolio tasting ever" on February 5 in London.

Christmas sales bonanza for Virgin Wines

Published: 19 December, 2012

Virgin Wines has sold more wine this week than ever before - shipping over 31,500 cases to households around the UK.

Kingsland Wine closes Stratford's headquarters

Published: 17 December, 2012

FE Barber, which trades as Kingsland Wine & Spirits and Legacy Wines, is to close Stratford's Wine Agencies Cookham office following its purchase of the firm back in September.

Coe Vintners keen to boost wine reputation

Published: 07 December, 2012

Coe Vintners is aiming to become as well known for wine as it is for spirits, according to the group's commercial director Nick Gillett.

Speed dating with the suppliers

Published: 30 November, 2012

Hoping to woo some new indie customers is Patriarche Wine Agencies with a quick-fire Q&A round.

First Drinks ramps up on-trade investment

Published: 30 November, 2012

First Drinks is strengthening its on-trade presence with a major investment to boost staff as well as develop a new merchandising strategy.

Three company directors leave Bibendum

Published: 29 November, 2012

Three company directors have left wine supplier Bibendum this week - but managing director Michael Saunders insists the move is just "streamlining the management team".

Waverley administrators return £3.5m under retention of title claims

Published: 16 November, 2012

The administrators of the WaverleyTBS estate have so far returned £3.5 million worth of stock to trade creditors under retention of title claims.

Waverley collapse leaves drinks trade short £40.5 million

Published: 12 November, 2012

Drinks distributor WaverleyTBS collapsed owing £64.6 million to unsecured creditors, with trade creditors facing losses of £40.5 million.

PLB boosts retail sales team

Published: 09 November, 2012

PLB has added four new staff to its sales team to better support its new structure, which sees the business split into five categories to cater for each segment of the market.