News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Harpers' deputy editor wins Feature Writer award

Published: 23 July, 2008

Harpers' deputy editor, David Williams, won the Feature Writer of the Year Award at last week's Britvic Business Food and Drink Journalist of the Year Awards.

Macadam's SWAG

Published: 23 July, 2008

Former Oddbins boss and the current managing director of United Wineries, Richard Macadam, has been named chairman of the newly formed Spanish Wine Action Group (SWAG).

Port houses declare

Published: 23 July, 2008

More Port houses have declared the 2003 vintage.

The Interview - Roger Harris & Clare Montgomery, Owner and sales/marketing director, Roger Harris Wines

Published: 23 July, 2008

How did you get into the wine business?
A friend of mine used to ship Peugeot cars to East Africa, and the only wine that he drank was Beaujolais. I trained as an engineer at Loughborough and went to Peugeot in Sochaux, on the Swiss border, not far from Alsace. I then joined Lotus, but it was the time of the three-day week, and it was all pretty grim. We used to sit in our overcoats shivering in the winter because there was no fuel. At that stage there was very little future in the motor industry that I could see, so I decided to start my own business.

Myliko SA joint venture

Published: 23 July, 2008

Myliko Wines has entered into a joint venture with South African producer Tinus Broodryk.

Southcorp board says yes to Foster's increased bid

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Foster's Group looks set to take over Southcorp, following acceptances by the majority of the Southcorp board of the improved A$4.26 per share offer.

Havana Club goes to consumers

Published: 23 July, 2008

Pernod Ricard-distributed Cuban rum Havana Club is launching its first-ever UK consumer advertising and sponsorship campaign with an investment of 1.75 million.

Octavian secures new Percy Fox logistics deal

Published: 23 July, 2008

Logistics company Octavian has been awarded a five-year contract to handle the entire portfolio of Percy Fox and Justerini & Brooks across the UK.

Co-op concentrates on Fair Trade

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Co-op wine-buying team is stepping up its offering of Fair Trade wines.

Rappoport departs

Published: 23 July, 2008

Quentin Rappoport will leave his position as director of the WSA, as previously reported in Harpers, at the end of April.

COCKATOO BACKS BRAND PHOENIX

Published: 23 July, 2008

Following the recent purchase of the Normans stable of brands and winery, Cockatoo Ridge Wines has confirmed that distribution of the wines (which includes NXG) will stay with Brand Phoenix in the UK.

THE INTERVIEW - JOSEPH SANDLER

Published: 23 July, 2008

Kedem Europe Ltd is a subsidiary of The Royal Wine Corporation, a New York-based company that has the largest international selection of kosher wines in the world and is responsible for 80-90% of kosher wine sales in the US and 50-60% of kosher wine sales in the UK. Joseph Sandler joined the The Royal Wine Corporation 11 years ago to launch Kedem Wines Europe Ltd. This year the eight-day Jewish festival of Passover starts on 23 April.

GALLO REJIGS AS EUROPEAN BOSS DEPARTS

Published: 23 July, 2008

E&J Gallo has announced a number of personnel developments within its European division following the sudden departure of vice president general manager, Europe, Tamara Minick-Scokalo.

BERRY'S EXPANDS HEATHROW

Published: 23 July, 2008

Leading independent Berry Brothers & Rudd is set to double its presence at Heathrow Airport by adding new stores at Terminals 1 and 2 this summer.

WTAG PLEDGES TO WORK WITH REFORMED WSA

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Wine Trade Action Group (WTAG) has endorsed the proposed restructuring of the Wine & Spirit Association (WSA). Six WTAG members will constitute 50% of the new interim executive board, although members of WTAG have decided to continue to meet.

JS TO REDUCE RANGE?

Published: 23 July, 2008

Sainsbury's, the UK's third-largest retailer and the original pioneer of supermarket wines, is also looking to reduce the number of wines it offers by up to 10%.

CRANSWICK-SMITH RETURNS

Published: 23 July, 2008

Graham Cranswick-Smith, founder of Cranswick Premium Wines, has joined forces with Kingston Estate Wines to form a new distribution company, Kingston Wine Agencies.

NEW PLANTINGS IN CHIANTI CLASSICO MAR THE LANDSCAPE, SAYS CONSORZIO CHIEF

Published: 23 July, 2008

The planting of new vineyards in the Chianti Classico zone is marring the landscape and reducing the agricultural diversity of the region, according to Consorzio del Marche Storico Chianti Classico president Giovanni Ricasoli-Firidolfi.

DARBYSHIRE RUNS FOR SOUTH AFRICAN CHARITY

Published: 23 July, 2008

Thierry's boss Peter Darbyshire is running the London Marathon on 17 April for a South African charity that aims to help disadvantaged children with special educational needs and those whose lives are adversely affected by alcohol.