News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Beaujolais UK sales skyrocket

Published: 31 March, 2020

Beaujolais has continued its revival in the UK, with 2019 exports up 17% by value and 22% by volume year on year, according to new figures from Inter Beaujolais.

Restructured Armit comes out fighting

Published: 31 March, 2020

Significant restructuring at Armit Wines following new MD Brett Fleming’s appointment has seen improved performance, stemming a decline in the second half of FY2019 with far reaching change to its business strategy.

Bibendum and Matthew Clark launch new app to help virus-hit on-trade

Published: 31 March, 2020

Bibendum and Matthew Clark has introduced a new app aimed at helping the virus-hit on-trade.

Stockpiling and on-trade closure send off-trade BWS sales through the roof

Published: 31 March, 2020

Off-trade sales of beer, wine and spirits (BWS) surged 67% in the week to 21 March - the week the government announced the closure of the on-trade.

Distil and BHC end new joint venture

Published: 31 March, 2020

British drinks companies Distil and British Honey Company have folded their recently launched joint venture.

Distell reverses course on premium division

Published: 31 March, 2020

South African drinks giant Distell has shuttered its premium wine division Libertas Vineyards and Estates after little more than a year.

Gusbourne expands still wine offer

Published: 30 March, 2020

Kent-based sparkling-wine producer Gusbourne is to make available a number of limited-release still wines this year.

Wine Intelligence updates Global Report post-virus

Published: 30 March, 2020

Wine Intelligence has updated its Global Report post-coronavirus (Covid-19), first launched in January, to highlight both the short and long-term effects the pandemic is likely to have on wine consumption.

Sparkling dominates online wine searches

Published: 30 March, 2020

Nearly half of all wine-related online searches in the UK are for sparkling wine, according to new research from Italian wine specialists Independent Wine.

Casual Dining cancelled as venue converted to hospital

Published: 30 March, 2020

This year’s Casual Dining and Commercial Kitchen events are the latest to be cancelled in the wake of coronavirus (Covid-19).

Company news: adapting to a new ‘norm’

Published: 27 March, 2020

As drinks suppliers and retailers continue to fast adapt to the new trading landscape, we bring you a snapshot of just some of last week’s developments.

Friday Read: Updating organic viticulture for tomorrow's world

Published: 27 March, 2020

It was June 2011 when Dr Richard Smart first told a group of journalists that organic and biodynamic wines were damaging to the environment. Speaking at the 'Wineries for Climate Protection' conference that took place in Barcelona that year, his scathing criticism rapidly spread across the internet, much to the delight of my editors.

 WSTA and CEEV call for regulatory alignment post-Brexit

Published: 27 March, 2020

Wine trade bodies, the WSTA and CEEV have jointly urged the British government to maintain regulatory alignment on wine post-Brexit.

Support pours in for The Drinks Trust

Published: 27 March, 2020

Support for The Drinks Trust is pouring in from companies big and small with the latest batch of supporters including Pernod Ricard, English wine producer Fox & Fox and Whisky.Auction.

Best booze flicks for lockdown weekend

Published: 27 March, 2020

One week into lockdown, and you’ve exhausted all of Netflix ‘recommended for you’ offerings and are missing the world of wine. So why not kill two birds with one stone and stream a film about booze?

Chancellor matches staff wage subsidies for self-employed

Published: 26 March, 2020

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has confirmed that the government will cover the wages of self-employed workers up to £2,500 a month – matching what was offered to staff employees last week.

Ridgeview supports Hospitality Action

Published: 26 March, 2020

Ridgeview has pledged to support Hospitality Action via a new initiative that will see the Sussex winery donate £2 for every bottle of its sparkling wine sold online to the charity.

Wines from Spain annual tasting to be held late September

Published: 26 March, 2020

Wine from Spain has announced its postponed annual tasting will take place 29 September this year at Sky Garden.

WSTA launches weekly coronavirus webinar

Published: 25 March, 2020

The WSTA has announced it is launching a weekly webinar series on coronavirus (Covid-19) and the impact on the world of wines and spirits.

Lawyers urge businesses to “read the fine print” over Job Retention Scheme

Published: 25 March, 2020

Legal advice has been issued to drinks businesses who are now looking to rely on the government’s promise to cover 80% of salaries (up to a limit of £2,500) a month to furloughed members of staff during the current coronavirus (Covid-19) health crisis.