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Hallgarten signs deal with Champagne Palmer

Published:  16 September, 2024

Specialist wine importer, Hallgarten & Novum Wines, is continuing the steady expansion of its French portfolio with the addition of Champagne Palmer. Available immediately to the UK hospitality and retail sectors, the new addition is part of a significant business expansion plans in 2024 to boost Hallgarten’s trade offer, with a host of new additions being announced in recent weeks.

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Exclusive: Alliance Wine acquires H2Vin, expanding Old-World portfolio

Published:  16 September, 2024

UK wine importer Alliance Wine has acquired London-based old-world wine specialist H2Vin, aiming to merge their businesses in the coming months, Harpers can exclusively reveal.

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Scotland's alcohol policy fails as death toll rises

Published:  13 September, 2024

In recent years, Scotland has faced a worsening crisis of alcohol-related harm, as the number of deaths linked to alcohol consumption has surged. Despite being the first country in the world to introduce a Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) policy in 2018, the strategy has not achieved the expected results. Coupled with the Scottish government’s controversial plans to ban alcohol advertising, these initiatives have sparked a heated debate on the effectiveness of policy-driven approaches to reducing alcohol abuse.

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Finalists announced for Copa Jerez UK 2024

Published:  13 September, 2024

The chef and sommelier teams selected to compete in the 2024 UK finals of Copa Jerez have been revealed. The finalists are: Chef Will Stoyle and sommelier Zoé Donadio from the Silo x Apricity collaboration, Chef Stephen James Thompson and sommelier Cong Cong Bo from The Foraging Chef x Amphora Cambridge, and chef Lily Stock with sommelier Yuri Humphreys from Raffles London at the OWO.

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SITT Autumn is almost here

Published:  12 September, 2024

Back for another two days across London and Manchester, SITT Autumn promises to deliver another actioned packed event, with 50 exhibitors showcasing their wines and masterclasses presented by Dr Jamie Goode, Sarah Abbott MW and Isa Bal MS.

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Scotch whisky exports fall by 18% in first half of 2024

Published:  12 September, 2024

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has revealed a significant drop in exports, with a decline of 18% in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. The value of exports in H1 2024 fell to £2.1bn, while the volume dropped by 10.2%, equating to 566 million 70cl bottles, or 36 bottles per second. This contrasts with 40 bottles per second in the first half of 2023.

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Widespread compliance with Portman’s voluntary guidelines

Published:  12 September, 2024

A new review of alcohol labelling in the UK has shown almost universal compliance with the Portman Group’s voluntary health labelling guidelines.

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Hospitality vacancies fall below 100,000 for the first time since the pandemic

Published:  12 September, 2024

The number of job vacancies in the UK’s hospitality sector has dropped below 100,000 for the first time since the pandemic, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). There are currently 98,000 vacancies in food service and accommodation, marking a reduction on recent years. However, the number remains 5,000 higher than pre-pandemic levels of 93,000.

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Rascallion and Hammonds of Knutsford sign new partnership

Published:  12 September, 2024

Family-owned independent wine and spirits specialist, Hammonds of Knutsford, has brokered a new partnership with Rascallion Wines of South Africa to be its exclusive agent in the UK and Ireland.

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French wines see strong UK growth despite market decline

Published:  11 September, 2024

Despite a 4% decline in the overall UK wine market, French wines recorded a 6% growth, driven by a 21% surge in wines from the Languedoc-Roussillon region. 

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Indigo turns 21 with special guests tasting

Published:  11 September, 2024

Indigo Wine celebrated 21 years in business this week via a special gathering of the wines and winemakers which helped to put the business on the UK map.

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Hallgarten expands portfolio with new Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and South African producers

Published:  10 September, 2024

Wine importer Hallgarten & Novum Wines has further expanded its portfolio for the UK’s premium hospitality and retail sectors by adding several new international producers. This includes two Italian wineries, La Collina Dei Ciliegi from Valpantena in Valpolicella and Sardinia’s Sella & Mosca. 

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Hospitality industry calls for urgent action on business rates

Published:  10 September, 2024

UKHospitality is urging the government to take immediate action to prevent a sharp rise in business rates for thousands of hospitality businesses, warning that bills could skyrocket in April 2025 without intervention.

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Lower harvest volume forecast for Austria

Published:  10 September, 2024

Austria has declared a 'very early vintage' for 2024, with volumes expected to be considerably lower than the recent average.

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González Byass UK adds Famiglia Castellani to wine portfolio

Published:  10 September, 2024

González Byass UK has announced the addition of Famiglia Castellani to its UK wine portfolio, with the collaboration starting on 9 September 2024.

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Henkell Freixenet acquires full ownership of Vinicom

Published:  09 September, 2024

Henkell Freixenet, a global leader in sparkling wine and renowned supplier of still wines, has reinforced its presence in Portugal by completing the acquisition of Vinicom, a family-owned wine distribution company. 

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Seedlip founder launches new era with lab and segue into ‘dark spirits’

Published:  09 September, 2024

Ben Branson, the man behind pioneering low & no brand Seedlip is celebrating ten years of boundary breaking with a new product launch, made at a pioneering new facility designed to take his creations to the next level.

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London Assembly investigates night-time economy as UKHospitality voices concerns

Published:  09 September, 2024

The London Assembly’s Economy, Culture and Skills Committee has launched an investigation into the challenges facing the city’s night-time economy, focusing on the long-term effects of the pandemic, rising inflation and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The inquiry aims to assess how well London’s night-time leisure sector has recovered and to explore how existing mayoral policies support the ambition of a “24-hour city”.

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New F&B course seeks to offer ‘creditable pathways to success'

Published:  09 September, 2024

A new Food & Beverage Manager Development Programme has been launched to help individuals working in hospitality to develop managerial and leadership skills.

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67 Pall Mall communicator awards revealed

Published:  09 September, 2024

Wine-forward members club 67 Pall Mall has announced the winners of its first ever Global Wine Communicator Awards.

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