Top Merchants - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Take 5 With Pol Roger's Hubert de Billy

Published: 16 January, 2013

Harpers hears from Hubert de Billy, sales manager for France at Champagne Pol Roger, who will be exhibiting at SITT Spring 2013.

Looking back on 2012 for the wine trade: part 3

Published: 20 December, 2012

In the third and final part of our 2012 review, we look at what the main generic bodies have been doing throughout the year - many have implemented changes away from their usual marketing plans; good news in the form of Harpers new awards recognising industry talent and the launch of the London 2013 business show on wine. We also consider a few high-profile departures during the year and look at how wine firms are changing how they operate to cope with declining volumes and squeezed margins.

Wines from Rioja names Retailer of the Year

Published: 18 December, 2012

Wines from Rioja has announced the winners of its Retailer of the Year Competition 2012 as Cambridge Wine Merchants, with the Longship, Orkney, as runner-up.

Consumer budgeting has knock-on effect on indies

Published: 11 December, 2012

The independent sector must up its game if it's to reverse the current trend for shopping "little and often" in convenience outlets, according to research released by Accolade Wines.

Speed dating with the suppliers

Published: 30 November, 2012

Hoping to woo some new indie customers is Patriarche Wine Agencies with a quick-fire Q&A round.

Indie comment: too much power among too few distributors

Published: 29 November, 2012

Paul Tutton, owner of Waterloo Wine in Borough, London, gets on his soapbox about the increasing power of distributors and breweries on the specialist market.

Domaines Paul Mas opens UK office

Published: 07 November, 2012

Languedoc producer Domaines Paul Mas has appointed Elin Mann to run its first ever dedicated sales and marketing office based in London.

Speed dating with the suppliers

Published: 15 October, 2012

Can Grupo Codorníu convince you it's got what it takes to be your ideal match?

Indie comment: Meirion Williams on a high street renaissance

Published: 03 October, 2012

At a recent barbecue (yes, we did manage to sneak one in this summer), someone asked what I did for a living. I replied that I sold wine for an independent, family-run business, established some 40 years ago.

CIVB launches in-store tasting initiative for independents

Published: 28 September, 2012

The Bordeaux Wine Council (CIVB) has launched A Taste For Bordeaux, a new in-store consumer tasting initiative for wine merchants.

WWA makes indie-friendly changes to pricing and service

Published: 25 September, 2012

World Wine Agencies has launched a new logistics model to allow independents to purchase at the "best possible" ex-cellar prices and in lower quantities to help keep stock holding to a minimum.

Charles Taylor Wines to hold first northern portfolio tasting

Published: 19 September, 2012

Charles Taylor Wines is to hold its first stand-alone portfolio tasting in the north of England, in a bid to capitalise on the region's "unrealised potential ".

Wines of Sicily Tasting

Published: 07 September, 2012

Sicilian wines are a great match with the independent sector, but if you don't know your Nero d'Avola from your Nerello Mascalese then head to the Wines of Sicily tasting to find out more.

Indie research: local shopkeepers are Britain's hardest workers

Published: 07 September, 2012

Sixty per cent of independent shopkeepers work more than 50 hours in an average week, while just 7% work fewer than 30 hours a week, according to new findings from the Association of Convenience Stores.

The Big Question - indies speak out

Published: 07 September, 2012

In the first of our new series the Big Question we give independent wine merchants the chance to speak out about topics that matter to them and their business.

Additions to SITT Autumn

Published: 06 September, 2012

Independent on and off-trade buyers on the lookout for wines seeking UK distribution or something new to revive their ranges should head to SITT Autumn on September 24.

Indies should band together and stand out

Published: 02 August, 2012

Independent wine merchants are being urged to raise their profile with consumers and differentiate themselves from the price promotion tactics of the major multiples.

New health and safety guide for small businesses

Published: 02 August, 2012

A bid to force small businesses to pay for their own health and safety inspections is being criticised by the Forum of Private Business, which has published a Health and Safety Guide to help negotiate the minefield of regulations.