Cellar Trends strengthens portfolio with Beau Joie

Drinks distributor Cellar Trends has strengthened its sparkling portfolio with the addition of Beau Joie Champagne as part of its UK growth strategy. 

Jascots expands Spanish portfolio with Bierzo producer

Jascots Wine Merchants has added Bierzo producer Vinos de Losada to its growing portfolio. 

The Wine Show branches out with TWS Creative

The Wine Show’s commercial arm has been renamed TWS Creative to better reflect the digital marketing and branding consultancy services offered by the business.

UK hospitality takes a £30bn tumble

The closure of the hospitality industry between April to June left a £30bn hole in the British economy, it has emerged.

Campari Group profits drop one third in Q2

The Campari Group has reported a 33.5% drop in net profit, down to €77.6m, across the second quarter of 2020, with sales down 11.3%, at €768.7m.

Eat Out to Help Out postcode checker launches alongside guidance for businesses

The government has released new guidance for businesses on the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme, which will enable bars and restaurants to claim back customer-facing discounts from 7 August.

Johnson’s anti-obesity drive triggers ‘hidden calorie’ consultation

A consultation is being launched as to whether the ‘hidden calories’ in alcohol should form part of wider communication across both the on- and off-trades in order to tackle soaring obesity rates.

Border model could leave the UK between a rock and a hard Brexit

Co-op reports record growth as market share soars

The Co-Op has reported record sales over the past quarter, with the fastest share growth in the grocery retail industry for the 12 weeks to 14 June (Kantar). Sales are up 29.1%, bringing their market share to 7.4% – their highest since 2001.

Approval rating of ‘new look’ on-trade reaches 94%

The vast majority of consumers who have visited pubs, restaurants and bars in England in the two weeks since reopening have been satisfied with safety measures and their overall experience, a new survey has revealed.

Lords advocate ditching VI-1s in favour of digital wine passport

The introduction of burdensome VI-1 forms to wine entering the UK from the EU has found its way into the House of Lords where members debated scrapping them via an amendment to the Agriculture Bill. 

Staff shifts still down 69% across the UK

The challenge facing the hospitality sector has been reiterated by new figures which show that shifts worked by employees are still down 68.9% across the UK.

James Sommerin left ‘devastated’ by restaurant closure as he issues plea to customers

Top chef James Sommerin has spoken about the cruel circumstances surrounding the closure of his family restaurant after the pressures of Covid-19 became too much to bear.

Sandia Chang launches one stop e-shop for grower Champagne

Sandia Chang, the renowned California-born sommelier and founder of Fitzrovia’s hotdogs and Champagne joint in is taking her love of growers Champagne online which the launch of a new e-shop.

On-trade trading at near 70% of pre-Covid norms

Managed pub, bar and restaurant groups in England have reported improving sales in the second week after shut-down was lifted, boosted by the reopening of more sites, according to the latest Coffer Peach Business Tracker data.

Champagne fails to agree 2020 yield amid “worst crisis since WW2”

The Champenois are in disarray as efforts to reach agreement on the level of yield for the 2020 harvest failed at a recent meeting of the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC) in Epernay.

The Long Read: Questioning the wisdom of a direct approach

At a time when traditional channels are continuing to diminish and dwindle, direct-to-consumer (DTC) models are unsurprisingly all the rage. What was once a dirty word in regions like Champagne is becoming a de rigueur response to the crisis, as wineries desperately attempt to claw back income lost due to the pandemic.

Welsh Wine Week to launch with online tasting

Welsh Wine Week will launch with an online tasting led by wine experts Charlie Womersley and Oz Clarke OBE, who will be joined by iconic Welsh performer Max Boyce.

Ramón Bilbao targets organic certification for vineyards

Spanish producer Ramón Bilbao has begun the three-year process of converting its Rioja and Rueda vineyards to organic production methods.

Pernod Ricard issues more upbeat guidance for 2020

Pernod Ricard is predicting a softer impact on its business as a result of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, according to its latest guidance for its 2020 results.