Action Week 2: Call to indies to lobby local MP and media for a Drop in Duty

Harpers is today calling on independent wine merchants across the UK to lobby both their MP and local media to back the Drop the Duty campaign and help raise the profile of their business on this key business issue.

Supermarkets special report: Why less is more

As the UK's major multiples look to pare back their wine and spirit ranges in order to boost performance and compete with discounters, Gemma McKenna asks what this new direction will mean for the rest of the trade

10 Top Tips for suppliers on how to work better with independent wine merchants

Tim Carlisle, consultant and formerly of wine merchant businesses, Slurp and SH Jones, offers 10 Tips to suppliers on how they could work more effectively with independent wine merchants as part of Harpers' ongoing March for the Independents campaign.

Tesco calls on wine suppliers for added payments as Grocery Code Adjudicator starts inquiry

In the last 24 hours Tesco has issued two separate requests for wine suppliers to pay effectively the same additional payment for increased sales volumes they have received for their products following its recent product cull.

US wine shipments threatened as ports gridlock ahead of possible shutdown

US ports are currently facing gridlock traffic as the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association which represents shipping lines has failed to reach an agreement in contract negations with an impending shut down only days away.

Newly formed New Zealand Craft Beer Collective comes to the UK

The New Zealand Craft Beer Collective, a group of craft brewers that formed in mid-2014, will soon be imported and distributed in the UK.

Grocery Adjudicator launches Tesco investigation

The Groceries Code Adjudicator has launched an investigation into Tesco over evidence that it delayed supplier payments and demanded fees for better positioning on shelf.

12 ways indies can work better with suppliers says Les Grands Chais de France

A growing list of major wine suppliers and producers are now seriously looking to work closer and more effectively with independent wine merchants. Here Tim North, UK director for Les Grands Chais de France, one of the largest French wine producers with estates in all the main wine growing regions, offers his advice to merchants on how to buy and then market and sell their wines. Les Grands Chais de France is one of the partner suppliers behind the March for the Independents campaign.

Felix Solis UK toasts sales rise of 28% in first year as standalone firm

The UK arm of Spanish wine company Felix Solis is toasting a cracking first year as a standalone company as its sales have soared 28% in the last 12 months.

Great Western Wine reports strong 2014 sales helped by surge in Christmas trading

Great Western Wine has reported strong 2014 sales up 14% on the previous year with a particularly strong Christmas trading period where it increased sales by 25% year-on-year.

Simon Woods assesses how far Kingsland has gone with its independents and on-trade range

Already one of the largest bottlers of bulk wine in the UK, Manchester-based Kingsland is now looking to reposition itself as a one-stop shop for both the on-and off-trade. Recent tastings in London and Manchester provided a chance to see how the range stacks up.

10 tips for merchants to improve buying and selling skills for March for the Independents

As part of Harpers ongoing March for the Independents campaign Angela Mount, former head wine buyer for Somerfield and now retail and management consultant for the wine trade, offers her Top 10 tips on how she thinks independent wine merchants can improve their buying and selling skills.

The Benevolent offers magic, music and dancing at its March Ball

The Benevolent is encouraging the drinks trade to reward well performing staff with a night out at the industry charity's ball at London's Dorchester hotel on March 12.

More singers announced and Skin Côntact's Alex Hunt reveals all he knows - and likes - about music

If the thought of wine legends Joe Wadsack and Charles Metcalfe singing along to the sounds of the wine trade's very own rock band Skin Côntact, was not enough to get you to their one off gig on March 9 at London's Vinopolis, then four more singers have just been added to the line up. 

Opportunities ripe for consolidation in independent wine sector, predicts Broderson

The time is right for many independent operators across the wine and spirits sector to seriously consider consolidation in order to strengthen businesses, says drinks mergers and acquisition specialists Broderson & Co.

Merchants urged to get suppliers to sign Best Practice Guidelines for March for Independents

Today Harpers is calling on independent wine merchants across the country to help get their suppliers fully behind the sector by signing up to Harpers' Best Practice Guidelines,  set up to try and ensure relations between independents and suppliers are as effective as possible.

Wine agency suppliers to be hardest hit in Tesco range cull

Tesco's pledge to cut ranges by 30% as part of a massive overhaul of its entire product base will hit wine and spirits suppliers, especially those on the agency side, and is likely to be followed by the other major supermarket chains, industry experts have warned.

Action Week 1 - Getting the most out of your suppliers

Harpers March for the Independents campaign kicks off with retailer survey

Today marks the official start of Harpers March for the Independents campaign which over the next month will put the spotlight firmly on the needs and trading issues facing independent wine merchants.

Wine is now the UK's most popular alcohol drink with 30 million regular drinkers

Wine is now the most popular alcohol drink with 60% of adults, according to a new poll commissioned by the Wine and Spirit Trade Association.