New data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) can reveal hospitality had another strong month in December 2024, with output for the food and drink sector growing 2%. This made it the largest contributor to growth for the wider consumer-facing services industry.
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LWC, the UK’s largest independent drinks wholesaler, has announced a new set of ESG commitments, which is aimed at helping the wholesaler reach its net zero by 2050 target.
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Greater Manchester importer Boutinot is partnering with Uco Valley estate and winery Bodega Urqo, in a wine-making joint venture called Azul y Blanco (AyB).
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Margaret River winery Cape Mentelle is introducing its new Marri range to UK customers via its importer, Bancroft Wines. The four-wine range includes wines synonymous with the Western Australian appellation in Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.
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Current chairman Johnny Symington MBE is retiring from the eponymous Port business after 40 years at the helm, passing the baton on to younger family members.
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Madame F, the queer-owned rosé brand with an ethos of championing the LGBTQ+ community within the wine trade, has been added to Hallgarten & Novum Wine’s expanding roster.
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A new report by CGA by NIQ and the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), the trade association representing the night time industry, shows that the total number of nightclubs, late-night bars and casinos fell by 2.8% to 2,264 venues as of December 2024.
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Four new senior appointments have been made by the Majestic-owned wine bar business Vagabond, including the hiring of Jack Merrylees as head of marketing and PR.
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Be Inclusive Hospitality’s fifth industry report, drawing from over 4,000 survey responses over the past three years, reveals persistent challenges faced by ethnically diverse talent within the hospitality sector.
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Among a suite of changes at Fells, Richard Brockett (pictured, left) has been promoted from national off-trade director to sales director for the company. The changes come in a renewed growth push at Fells for 2025 and the years ahead, as the importer seeks to a pursue new a brand development strategy, and also coincide with a reshuffle at the top of majority owner Symington Family Estates.
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The Gérard Basset Foundation and the Bordeaux Mentor Week won the ‘Best Education & Knowledge Sharing V d’Or’ category at the V d’Or awards 2025. The event, attended by Harpers, was hosted by Vinexposium at the Pavillon Gabriel in Paris on the eve (9 February) of Wine Paris.
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Sake exports grew by +6% year on year for 2024 compared to the year prior, with the export value reaching 43.5bn yen (approximately £230mn) with 3.45mn cases of the rice wine reaching a record 80 countries and regions.
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The new alliance between mezcal distillery, Destilería Los Danzantes, and Casa Pedro Domecq, the Mexican joint venture between González Byass and Emperador Group, will aim to expand the reach of the Mezcal producer. The alliance follows a capital injection by Casa Pedro Domecq.
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Once again presenting a united front, Washington and Oregon returned to the UK on Thursday (6 February) to showcase the unique offering of the Pacific Northwest as North America’s answer to Burgundy and Bordeaux.
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There is only a short time left to nominate yourself or a colleague for this year’s 30 Under 30 via our now extended the deadline of Tuesday 18 February.
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What’s not to love about rum. It’s a party drink, it’s fun, it makes you think of tropical climates and holidays – and above all else, it’s delicious. The ideal tonic for the depressing outlook of a dull British winter. For 25 years we’ve been saying ‘Rum is the next big thing’. But unlike the gin boom of the early 2010s, the slow and steady growth of the category has actually turned into 25 years of unwavering success. It snuck up on us to become one of the largest and most successful spirit categories – and it looks like there’s even more growth to come.
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Chivas Brothers, the Pernod Ricard Scotch whisky business which can name The Glenlivet and Chivas Regal in its portfolio, saw a 2% drop in sales for the first half of this 2024-2025 financial year, from April to December 2024.
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Gonzalez Byass UK celebrated 21 years to the day since the registration of the company in Britain, putting on a comprehensive portfolio tasting yesterday (6 February) in central London, complete with birthday cake for the assembled tasters.
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The Wine Society has announced the permanent appointment of Victoria Mason MW to the Society’s buying team.
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Julie Nollet, MD of Moët Hennessy for UK & Ireland, has been announced as the newest member of the WSTA executive board.
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