News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Majestic reinstates click and collect from stores

Published: 27 May, 2020

Majestic Wine is allowing customers back to its stores for the first time since lockdown, with orders now available to collect from local stores.

Marketing spend and tone of voice labelled vital in Covid era

Published: 27 May, 2020

With the pandemic putting companies and brands under the microscope, businesses are being warned to pay close attention to how they communicate with consumers – and how vigorously they defend their market share.

2020 Piemonte Report hails ‘last great wine region in the world’

Published: 27 May, 2020

Barolo and Barbaresco lovers have long championed Italy’s finest Nebbiolos, but the wines have remained somewhat under the radar when compared with the attention heaped on the likes of rivals from Tuscany, Burgundy and Bordeaux.

Alcohol to not rebound globally until 2024

Published: 26 May, 2020

It will take five years for the global alcohol category to get back to pre-Covid health, the IWSR has predicted, with double digit declines expected to the hit the category this year.

A Taste of New York: Indie opportunities from the Empire State

Published: 26 May, 2020

With small production and a cool climate, New York State’s leading wine producers are looking to punch above their collective weight on the world stage, with the UK singled out as the ‘shop window’ to showcase its wares.

Two out of the UK’s top five alcohol brands are wine

Published: 26 May, 2020

Wine has taken two of the top spots as the most purchased alcohol brands in the UK off-trade, with Hardys and McGuigan in second and fourth place respectively.

Berry Bros and Liberty aim to raise thousands for hospitality

Published: 26 May, 2020

Supplier Liberty Wines and merchant Berry Bros. & Rudd (BBR) are among those leading a number of initiatives to support hospitality businesses during Covid-19 lockdown.

Demand for US and Italian wines leads fine wine investment spike

Published: 26 May, 2020

BI, the fine wine and spirits merchant, has reported something of a boom in its fine wine sales during the era of coronavirus, with sales of both US and Italian wine leading the pack.

New role at Doña Paula for Atkin’s ‘Viticulturalist of the Year’

Published: 26 May, 2020

Doña Paula Estate’s Martín Kaiser has taken on a new role as director of viticulture and winemaking at Doña Paula, building on 14 years as viticulturalist at this Santa Rita Estate’s-owned Argentinian winery.

All systems go for pink Prosecco

Published: 22 May, 2020

Prosecco DOC Rosé has now been enshrined in Italian law, meaning the trade can expect to see the first official ‘pink Proseccos’ hitting shelves in 2021.

Night trade poses biggest barrier to reopening on-premise

Published: 22 May, 2020

Packed pubs, standing-only bars and heaving nightclubs pose the biggest challenge to getting the struggling on-trade back on its feet, the IWSR has suggested.

Carluccio's bailout saves under half of its restaurants

Published: 22 May, 2020

Italian restaurant chain Carluccio’s has completed its bailout deal with Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG), saving 30 of its 71 restaurants and costing 1,000 furloughed workers their jobs.

Living with lockdown – Natalie Tennent, Berry Bros. & Rudd

Published: 22 May, 2020

Jo Gilbert caught up with Natalie Tennent, chief operating officer of London merchant Berry Bros. & Rudd about a large part of the business going into hibernation, while preparing for a shift in gears when lockdown eases.

Greene King gives 90% rent relief to tenants

Published: 21 May, 2020

Greene King has announced it will offer a major rent reduction to its tenants to give them a “fighting chance” of surviving the coronavirus pandemic.

On-trade operators should plan ‘relaunch', not ‘reopening’, ahead of 4 July

Published: 21 May, 2020

On-trade operators should “step away from emotion”, challenging themselves to think back to when they started their businesses and consider it a relaunch, not a reopening, when they once again open their doors.

WSET takes exams online

Published: 21 May, 2020

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has announced that it is launching a virtual exam room for students self-isolating around the world to enable them to complete their courses during lockdown.

Majestic and Moët launch fizz fundraiser for Drinks Trust

Published: 21 May, 2020

Majestic and Moët & Chandon have clubbed together to create a new fundraising initiative for The Drinks Trust.

Louis Latour continues quest for affordable sites outside of Burgundy

Published: 21 May, 2020

Maison Louis Latour has been ramping up its search for the best slopes for its hero Pinot Noir grape outside of Burgundy as a way of offering customers “stable” wine prices.

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.

Alcohol weathers Covid-19 peaks and troughs to become second highest food and drink growth category

Published: 20 May, 2020

Alcohol has weathered the storm of the coronavirus, new figures show, beating packaged foods and other beverages to see a 25% uplift in value sales since the beginning of lockdown.