Buckingham Schenk to ramp up on-trade focus with Argentinian wine brand

Buckingham Schenk is planning to ramp up its foothold on the on-trade with new Argentinian wine brand Phebus, sister brand of its star off-trade performer Vinalba.

Q&A: Buckingham Schenk's new MD Craig Durham outlines his plans

Newly-appointed managing director of wine supplier Buckingham Schenk Craig Durham takes up the role on February 1. He is the current sales director at the firm and replaces Jon Pepper MW, who is moving to Enotria. Here he shares his plans, current successes, how to expand on brand ranges, and why he'd love to see Swiss wines in the UK.

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Skin Côntact's Ben Smith shares his music likes and loves

The countdown is on until the biggest (well OK only) live gig of the year takes place when the wine trade's very own band, Skin Côntact, take to the stage at Vinopolis on March 9 to help raise money for Comic Relief.

Champagne celebrates return to growth as sales hit €4.5 billion

Champagne shipments grew 1% by volume in 2014, with sales expected to exceed 307 million bottles and hit €4.5 billion.

Groceries Code Adjudicator hamstrung in efforts to fine supermarkets

The Groceries Code Adjudicator has admitted she is hamstrung in her efforts to reprimand retailers as the government has not yet finalised her powers to hand out fines.

English sparkling wine Coates & Seely moves from Liberty to Gonzalez Byass

English sparkling wine producer Coates & Seely has switched its UK distribution from Liberty Wines to Gonzalez Byass.

On-trade supplier Matthew Clark toasts bumper December as sales top £100m

On-trade drinks supplier Matthew Clark says December was its most successful month ever as sales broke the £100 million mark, as customers plumped for top-end wines and Champagnes.

Top-up shop and vloggers tipped as major trends for 2015, says Euromonitor

Euromonitor forecasts the rise of convenience shopping and the growing power of vloggers or "native influencers" as two consumer trends expected to grow in 2015 that could impact the drinks trade.

Copestick Murray to distribute advertising mogul Sir John Hegarty's wines

Copestick Murray was inspired by Bartle Bogle Hegarty co-founder Sir John Hegarty's 'no holds barred' keynote speech at the WSTA conference last year to sign a distribution deal for his wines in the UK and Ireland.

Labour's alcohol policies to boost Britain's health attacked by trade bodies

Labour party plans to introduce a ban on alcohol sponsorship of sporting events, combined with a series of measures to boost Britain's health have been attacked by the drinks industry's major trade associations.

Nielsen confirms sparkling wine and major spirits categories as big Christmas winners

Nielsen has confirmed that sparkling wine and the main spirits categories were the big winners during Christmas 2014.

WSTA's Miles Beale urges all in UK drinks industry to help secure 2% cut in alcohol duty

Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine & Spirit Trade Association, spells out today on Harpers.co.uk why it is so important everyone in the UK drinks industry plays their part in trying to secure a 2% drop in alcohol duty in the Budget in March.

Wine and spirits industry will not be helped by falling oil prices says Moody's

The global drop in oil prices will only have a "modest" impact on consumer spending and the retail industry in the European Union, according to a new report from Moody's the credit rating agency.  revised its pricing assumptions in a newly published report that looked at the global impact the reduction in the cost  of oil could have and found there would have a 'modest' impact to consumer spending and retail within the EU.

Drinks firms need to collaborate more with suppliers to keep costs down

Ratcheting pressure on drinks firms and suppliers to become more agile and responsive to consumer demands is forcing up costs - meaning the need for collaboration between the two is more important than ever.

Daffy's Gin hopes to win over bars and spirit lovers with its unique mix of botanicals

Daffy's Gin is the latest new launch in to an already bursting category, but claims it uses a unique set of botanicals, including Lebanese mint, to make its own mark.

Alliance Wine buys Rhone to Rioja importer

Alliance Wine has bought specialist wine importer Rhone to Rioja, adding seven new Spanish agencies to its portfolio.

Tesco turns to advertising and management gurus to help rebuild brand's reputation

Tesco is bringing in organisation transformation firm Blue Rubicon and the advertising agency that Sir John Hegarty helped found, Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH), to work with the company's leadership team in an effort to help turn the struggling retailer around.

France needs to do better at selling itself hears French Wines Discovery tasting

France needs to better communicate its enviable attributes, according to a Harpers trade debate held at this week's French Wines Discoveries fair in London.

Tattooed bartenders are stars of new Giffard liqueurs and spirits campaign

Eleven tattooed  bartenders have been chosen to take part in a new campaign to help raise awareness of the Giffard range of liqueurs and spirits.