Four pubs battle it out for CAMRA's National Pub of the Year

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has shortlisted four pubs who will battle it out to be named its National Pub of the Year.

UK retailers need to target seven different types of shopper, says Kantar study

The changing face of  UK retailing is driven by the way consumers now behave and has created seven types of shopper, according to new research revealed today by Kantar Insights, the retail insights company.

The Week That Was: Top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have done a review of the top online news, financial news for the drinks trade, Q&As, and opinion stories.

Chief of the Week: Laura Jewell - soon to be UK "chief" of Wine Australia

TescoGate: Three suspended bosses reported to have left Tesco with more to follow

Kevin Grace, group commercial director, Carl Rogberg, UK finance director, and John Scouler, UK food commercial director, three of the executives that were suspended from Tesco following its accounting crisis have left the company, according to a Financial Times report. Other suspended executives, including head of beers, wines and spirits, Dan Jago,could be dismissed next week, according to media reports.

Special whisky launched to celebrate pro-independence vote in Scotland

US Black Friday shopping extravaganza takes off in the UK

Despite figures from Kantar indicating that the UK has not yet fully embraced the US shopping extravaganza that is Black Friday, this morning major retail websites like Tesco Direct have crashed due to the demand in online traffic, and there have been reports of fights breaking out amongst shoppers in stores around the country. Black Friday it appears has arrived in the UK.

Zuma's Noel Pusch is named Sake Sommelier of the Year

Noel Pusch of premium Japanese restaurant chain Zuma's Abu Dhabi branch has been named Sake Sommelier of the Year at an awards ceremony at London's Westbury Hotel this week.

Wine Australia confirms Tesco's Laura Jewell as its new head of UK and Europe

Wine Australia has confirmed to Harpers.co.uk that it has appointed Tesco's Laura Jewell MW to be its new regional director for the UK and Europe.

Raisinable wine app brings mark up transparency to restaurant consumers

Raisinable, a free wine app which compares restaurant and retail wine prices and illustrates the mark up, is launching today and will feature several restaurants in London.

Italy's Lugana wine producers fight plans for 'devastating' fast train

Wine producers in northern Italy's Lugana region are fighting plans for a high speed rail line which would wipe out one third of their vineyard area.

Chile and South Africa bulk wine markets face 'stormy weather'

Chile and South Africa's bulk wine suppliers are facing "stormy weather", according to experts, given there is still a lot of wine from last year's harvest.

Rugby stars Ruan Pienaar and Robbie Diack launch South African wine

Soul Tree looks to raise £350k in crowdfunding scheme for its Indian wine business

Maison Sichel signs Amazon deal to boost off-trade sales

Maison Sichel has signed a deal with Amazon for five of its wines, with a special focus on flagship brand Sirius, in an effort to revitalise the brand after its UK off-trade distribution "ran out of steam".

Debate over role and relevance of wine bloggers continues as trade figures take sides

What role and relevance bloggers have on the wine trade has become a major debating issue on Harpers.co.uk and on social media following recent articles questioning their value from leading wine commentators.

Consumers to tighten purse strings on food and drink this Christmas

Consumers are planning to rein in Christmas spending on food, drink and gifts this year, according to a poll carried out by pub operator Greene King.

Autumn heat helps to secure a promising vintage for the Loire Valley

Following two tough years, the autumn heat is responsible for the success of this year's vintage for Loire Valley, according to Les Vins du Centre Loire, which released the region's vintage report this week.

TescoGate latest: UK shareholders poised to sue over "reckless" accounting errors

A UK law firm is preparing legal action on behalf of Tesco shareholders that will allege directors and senior managers "knew or were reckless" over the retailer's "untrue of misleading" accounts, which overstated profits by £263 million.

Morrisons rapped by ASA for "misleading" wine adverts after only two complaints

Morrisons has been forced by the Advertising Standards Authority to pull what it claims are "misleading" adverts offering special promotions after only two complaints.