News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Webinar sign up: B Corp for the Wine Trade

Published: 29 August, 2024

Have you ever considered what it takes to become a B Corp certified company?

Indie retailers face down living wage increases

Published: 28 August, 2024

The National President of the Fed (Federation of Independent Retailers) has written to the new Secretary of State for Business and Trade to highlight the impact of higher wages on smaller businesses.

Naked’s losses widen as group seeks return to growth

Published: 28 August, 2024

Troubled online retailer Naked Wines has announced a further fall in sales, with its full year results showing total sales down 18% year-on-year to £290m (52 weeks to 1 April 2024) against £345.0m in FY23.

Berry Bros. & Rudd becomes exclusive partner for Tuscan vineyard

Published: 28 August, 2024

Fine wine and spirits merchant Berry Bros. & Rudd (BBR) has inked a new partnership with Orma, sandwiched between the hallowed estates of Ornellaia and Sassicaia.

Tom Platt: ‘Looking Back, Forging Ahead’

Published: 28 August, 2024

We continue our summer Q&A series with Tom Platt, CEO of Liberty Wines.

Scottish businesses call for lower VAT

Published: 27 August, 2024

"Less spend, fewer visits and less time spent in venues" is the current reality for the Scottish hospitality sector as businesses face a double whammy of consumer reluctance and rising costs.

UK hospitality faces employee burnout

Published: 23 August, 2024

Labour shortages and employee burnout continue to plague hospitality, a new report has found, as more than half (53%) of UK managers working in the sector say their company and staff are suffering.

James Davy: ‘Looking Back, Forging Ahead’

Published: 23 August, 2024

We continue our summer Q&A series with James Davy, chairman of Davy’s.

Treasury loses nearly £300m in spirits tax revenue

Published: 22 August, 2024

New figures from HM Revenue and Customs reveal the Treasury has lost close to £300m in tax revenue from Scotch whisky and other spirits following Jeremy Hunt’s significant tax increase last August.

Decline in alcohol consumption fuels demand for soft drinks

Published: 22 August, 2024

Alcohol consumption is declining globally, with the UK seeing a notable reduction of 23 percentage points, as more consumers opt for soft drinks, according to data from CGA by NIQ’s OPUS report.

Hallgarten & Novum Wines expands portfolio with global additions

Published: 22 August, 2024

Wine importer Hallgarten & Novum Wines has expanded its portfolio, adding several prominent producers from around the world. The new additions include Llopart, a sparkling wine producer from Penedès, Viña VIK, a premium winery from Chile and Bosco Viticultori, a Prosecco producer from Veneto. This move aims to attract new customers in the second half of the year.

Amathus to open first Wine Warehouse in South West London

Published: 21 August, 2024

Amathus, the drinks importer, distributor and retailer, is expanding its retail presence from nine to 14 locations, with the introduction of its first Wine Warehouse in East Sheen, South West London.

Pete Kelly: ‘Looking Back, Forging Ahead’

Published: 21 August, 2024

We continue our summer Q&A series with Pete Kelly, head of national accounts, Boutinot.

Luvians wins 31 Days of German Riesling campaign

Published: 21 August, 2024

For the thirteenth year running, July saw the UK trade dedicating the month to German Riesling, with 135 venues nationwide participating in a series of events, including German Riesling masterclasses, in-store promotions, wine dinners and social media initiatives.

Curious Vines launches non-wine skills workshop for female and non-binary talent

Published: 20 August, 2024

Curious Vines founder Queena Wong is helming a new Negotiation Skills Workshop aimed at ‘uplifting careers in wine’ for women and non-binary people.

Squerryes Vineyard expands with new winery and winemaker

Published: 20 August, 2024

Squerryes, a family-run vineyard in Westerham, has revealed plans for expansion, including the appointment of Tom Jones as its new winemaker, who will start next month.

Sporting events boost summer spending in UK hospitality

Published: 20 August, 2024

Summer 2024 has been a significant period for Britain’s pubs, bars and restaurants, with major sporting events like Men’s Euro 2024, Wimbledon and the Paris Olympics contributing to an 11% rise in consumer spending compared to last summer.

Brown Family Wine Group appoints Hallgarten & Novum as UK distributor

Published: 19 August, 2024

Australia’s Brown Family Wine Group has chosen Hallgarten & Novum Wines as the exclusive UK distributor for its Brown Brothers range. The team at Hallgarten will be responsible for introducing the wines, which have alcohol content ranging from 0-15%, to the UK’s hospitality and retail sectors.