News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Waitrose reports boom in gin sales, as craft and artisan styles increase

Published: 01 June, 2015

Waitrose has seen a surge of gin sales, up 7% on the same time last year, boosted by the growing interest in new styles.

Scotch whisky tourism hits record numbers and worth over £50m a year

Published: 01 June, 2015

Scotch whisky distilleries are attracting record numbers of visitors with over 1.5m people visiting Scotland last year generating more than £50m at distilleries.

Consumer confidence in the UK hits a 9 year high, according to Nielsen

Published: 01 June, 2015

UK consumer confidence, which rose for the fifth consecutive quarter, hit the highest level in nine years according to Nielsen's most recent figures.

As many as 3.4m UK middle aged drinkers are at risk of health problems despite industry warnings

Published: 01 June, 2015

Drinkaware, the alcohol education charity, found that 3.4m middle aged drinkers are "regularly drinking about the lower risk limits despite many recognising the potential health arms" according to a new report.

Copestick Murray reports strong performance on back of 'iheart' and Prosecco

Published: 01 June, 2015

Copestick Murray reported turnover up 15% to £23.6m in 2014 on the strength of its leading wine and Prosecco brands, 'iHeart' wine and Mionetto.

Villa Maria winemaker Alastair Maling moves to Foley Family Wines

Published: 01 June, 2015

Alastair Maling MW, the general manager winemaking at Villa Maria is set to leave the New Zealand winery at the end of June to join Foley Family Wine.

Hambledon reaches £2.75m crowdfunding target

Published: 29 May, 2015

Hampshire wine producer Hambledon Vineyard has secured its £2.75m crowdfunding target and has raised the investment opportunity to £3.5m.

London Wine Week gains momentum

Published: 29 May, 2015

More than 8,000 people took part in this year's London Wine Week, which saw a series of tasting events and pop-up bars help across the capital last week.

Calls for a united body to promote UK wine producers

Published: 29 May, 2015

English wine producers are calling for a new promotional body to represent producers and growers amid swelling consumer interest.

Tesco appoints former Diageo lawyer to head up legal team

Published: 29 May, 2015

Tesco has appointed Diageo's former lawyer David Berry as its first UK legal director, according to legal publication, The Lawyer.

New viticulture research programme opens in Kent to boost English wine industry

Published: 28 May, 2015

A trial research vineyard is being established at the East Malling Research centre in Kent which aims to boost productivity and margins within the English wine industry.

Retailers and UK vineyards celebrate English Wine Week

Published: 28 May, 2015

English Wine Week kicked off this week on the bank holiday as vineyards, high street retailers, and independent merchants opened up to promote the burgeoning English wine industry.

London bar chain Dirty Martini to open seventh site

Published: 28 May, 2015

London on-trade operator CG Restaurants and Bars is set to open a new site for its Dirty Martini bar chain in Islington next month.

Gusbourne Estate set to raise £3.57m from share to boost investment

Published: 28 May, 2015

English wine producer Gusbourne Estate is looking to raise more than £3.57m to invest in its winery and brand.

Online retailer New Zealand Cellar set to open first London shop this week

Published: 27 May, 2015

Online wine retailer The New Zealand Cellar is set to open its first retail shop in London this week, which has been funded entirely through crowd-funding.

Diageo revamps Smirnoff bottles following launch of new ad campaign

Published: 27 May, 2015

Diageo is rolling out new packaging for Smirnoff following the launch of its £4.5m "We're Open' campaign across Europe earlier this month.

Wines of Rioja looking to crown a 'Rioja retailer of the year'

Published: 27 May, 2015

There's still time to enter Wines from Rioja campaign for independent retailers, which runs throughout October.

Liberty Wines boost New Zealand portfolio

Published: 27 May, 2015

Liberty Wines has boosted its New Zealand portfolio after signing up wine producer Akarua.

Romanian wine supplier predicts rise of indigenous grapes following supermaket boost

Published: 27 May, 2015

A Romanian wine supplier that has increased UK exports tenfold in the past five years predicts a golden dawn for the country's wines after gaining listings for premium lines made with indigenous grapes.