News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

A Liberal Democrat MP is dropping his bid to make bars and restaurants sell wine in smaller glasses, saying ministers have since indicated they will back the plans. Text A Liberal Democrat MP is dropping his bid to make bars and restaurants sell wine in smaller glasses, saying ministers have since indicated they will back the plans.

VC Family Estates makes major Argentine investment

Published: 17 October, 2008

Viñedos Corpora Family Estates (VC Family Estates) has invested $15 million (£8.7 million) in vineyards in Patagonia as part of its drive to produce "exceptional" malbecs and pinot noirs.

Wine drinkers "penalised" for ordering smaller measures

Published: 17 October, 2008

Research by the Evening Standard newspaper concludes that drinkers are being penalised by pubs and bars when they order a small glass of wine.

Harpers steps up "facts" campaign

Published: 17 October, 2008

Harpers is today stepping up its "Alcohol: Know Your Facts" campaign by sending letters to the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer and other key government ministers and Whitehall departments calling on them to take on board the real facts about drinking levels in the UK. Text

CAMRA takes full pint petition to PM

Published: 17 October, 2008

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has visited 10 Downing Street to hand in a petition calling for an end to short beer measures in pubs and other licensed premises.

Vladivar launches £1 million ad campaign to promote new look

Published: 16 October, 2008

Vladivar vodka has revealed a £1 million advertising campaign themed around responsible drinking.

400 wines go on display at French fair

Published: 16 October, 2008

Nearly 400 wines from over 80 producers went on display at the Autumn Exclusive French Wines Fair in London last week.

Wine fraud 'worth' £300 million

Published: 16 October, 2008

Wine fraud has cost unwitting investors around the world up to £300 million in recent years.

Bushmills campaign remembers its roots

Published: 16 October, 2008

Irish whisky brand Bushmills has launched an on and off-trade promotion to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the original licence to distil whisky in the Bushmills area.

InBev "categorically denies" launch of stronger Stella

Published: 16 October, 2008

InBev has issued a statement categorically denying that it is to release a higher ABV variant of Stella Artois.

Diageo holds on to profit target despite downturn

Published: 16 October, 2008

Diageo is holding onto its full year profit target of between 7% and 9%, despite the financial crisis. TextDiageo is holding onto its full year profit target of between 7% and 9%, despite the financial crisis.

The drinks giant, which produces Smirnoff vodka, Johnnie Walker whisky and Guinness said organic net sales growth in the three months ended 30 September 2008 was 6%.

Chief executive Paul Walsh said that Diageo had delivered a "good trading performance" in its first quarter, which ran from July to September, despite anticipated global GDP growth slowing.

Walsh said the company has not seen significant adverse changes in its markets over the past three months, but said that it will be "alert to the impact the recent dislocation in the financial markets is likely to have on trade customer and consumer behaviour during the rest of the financial year."

In August, Diageo reported a lower than expected 7% rise in sales for the year ending June 2008 and a small drop in pre-tax profit to £2.095 billion, but said that operating profit had improved 9% to £2.23bn.

Famous Grouse launches St Andrew's Day campaign

Published: 15 October, 2008

Maxxium is launching an on and off-trade campaign to boost sales of its Famous Grouse whisky brand in the run up to St Andrew's Day.

Paragon re-establishes Australian connection

Published: 15 October, 2008

UK distributor Paragon Vintners has re-established an Australian representation in its portfolio by winning the full UK distribution for South Australian winery Jip Jip Rocks.

ALMR slams Labour's drink proposals

Published: 15 October, 2008

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has added its voice to the debate over a mandatory code of practice for the drinks trade, by branding the proposals "ridiculous" and "reckless". TextThe Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has added its voice to the debate over a mandatory code of practice for the drinks trade, by branding the proposals "ridiculous" and "reckless".

Casella plots European expansion for Yellow Tail

Published: 15 October, 2008

Casella Wines, makers of the popular Yellow Tail brand, has appointed a specialist wine sales and marketing agency in a bid to expand the volume of the brand's European sales.