News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

French wine cooperative to offer employees shares

Published: 27 April, 2015

A French cooperative, Plaimont Producteurs is set to open up its business to allow employees to become shareholders, which it claims is a first for a wine cooperative.

En primeur: "encouraging signs" from first chateaux to release prices

Published: 27 April, 2015

One of Chateau Lafite's subsidiary châteaux became the first to release prices for en primeur 2014 - and the signs are "encouraging", according to fine wine specialists.

McWilliam's Wines Group launches Evans & Tate' s Expressions range in the UK

Published: 27 April, 2015

The McWilliam's Wines Group is launching a new wine range called Expressions under its Australian Evans & Tate brand at London Wine Fair 2015.

Renaissance Pubs changes its name to Three Cheers Pubs

Published: 27 April, 2015

Independent London pub group Renaissance Pubs has renamed itself the Three Cheers Pubs today following a trademark dispute.

Diageo mulls fate of United Spirits boss Vijay Mallya

Published: 27 April, 2015

Diageo is mulling the fate of United Spirits boss Vijay Mallya, after its Indian- based subsidiary issued a vote of no-confidence in him over the weekend.

Bruichladdich distiller retires after more than 50 years in the industry

Published: 27 April, 2015

Bruichladdich's production director and master distiller is stepping down after 15 years at the Hebridean distillery.

Chilean brand Viña Montes introduces early 'spring harvest' Sauvignon Blanc

Published: 24 April, 2015

Chilean wine brand Vina Montes has introduced a 'spring harvest' Sauvignon Blanc to its range of wines, which is available at Liberty Wines.

Former TWE boss joins new digital TV channel dedicated to wine

Published: 24 April, 2015

David Dearie, the former CEO of Treasury Wine Estate, has joined the board of a new digital TV channel dedicated to wine.

Plumpton College launches first UK wine business degree

Published: 24 April, 2015

Plumpton College is launching the first wine business honours degree in the UK.

Chief of the Week: Ian Harris and the WSET

Published: 24 April, 2015

We raise a glass to The Wine & Spirit Education Trust and chief executive Ian Harris today for all the work that they have been doing over the decades to educate both those in the trade and consumers about wine.

Retail figures slump compared to February, but still up for the year

Published: 24 April, 2015

Retail sale slumped 0.5% last month, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics - but sales are still up 4.2% on the same time last year.

Q&A: Jonathan James talks to Harpers about his new franchise venture of Conviviality Retail

Published: 24 April, 2015

Jonathan James, the convenience store expert who has taken on the franchise of 36 stores acquired by Conviviality Retail from GT News, talks to Harpers.co.uk about his ambitious plans for the business.

Conviviality Retail's franchise boss to consult customers on refit of GT stores

Published: 24 April, 2015

Jonathan James, the convenience store expert who has taken on the franchise of 36 Conviviality Retail's stores, is rolling out a customer consultation process to get customers' input on the refit of its new stores.

Sainsbury's set to cut 800 jobs in shake-up

Published: 23 April, 2015

Sainsbury's has become the latest retailer to announce job cuts in a radical shake-up of its stores.

BrewDog launches £25m crowdfunding bid

Published: 23 April, 2015

BrewDog, Scotland's largest independent brewery, yesterday launched its biggest crowdfunding scheme to date.

Kent winery Chapel Down hails "excellent" year as sales rise 21%

Published: 23 April, 2015

English wine producer Chapel Down hailed an "excellent year" after seeing year-on-year sales rise 21% during 2014 to £6.1m.

Pernod Ricard's third quarter results shows sales improving

Published: 23 April, 2015

Sales are improving at Pernod Ricard according to its third quarter financial results, reporting a 2% increase in organic sales to €6.5b and a 6% rise in reported growth for the first 9 months of the financial year.

Portobello Road Gin launches new limited edition

Published: 23 April, 2015

Artisan gin brand Portobello Road gin is to launch a new limited edition gin, after seeing strong growth and growing international demand.

English Wine Project set to open a new bottling plant in the Midlands

Published: 22 April, 2015

The English Wine Project, a winemaking consultancy firm and producer of its own range of wines, is set to open a beer and wine bottling plant in Derby in mid-June.