Analysis & Insights - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Rejuvenating Beaujolais

Published: 31 October, 2018

As the French region looks to revitalise its reputation, Lisa Riley meets the growers introducing greener methods and pursuing organic certification

Not delivering the goods

Published: 31 October, 2018

Just Eat and Deliveroo offer restaurateurs a whole new customer base away from the high street, according to CGA. But is this at the expense of restaurants’ drinks offerings? Jo Gilbert reports

All the trimmings: alternatives to pair with Christmas

Published: 29 October, 2018

As summer slides inexorably into autumn, we Brits start ringing the seasonal changes. Light cotton shirts give way to warm sweaters, then the coats come out of seasonal hibernation. Afterwards there’s the annual dither about whether or not to switch the central heating on yet. Before you know it they’ll be playing Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas on a continuous loop in every shopping mall and supermarket between Land’s End and John O’Groats and offering deals on anything from Play Station consoles to family-sized boxes of Quality Street.

Festive Fuel

Published: 25 October, 2018

With Christmas set to deliver yet again for drinks retailers far and wide, Jaq Bayles takes a look at current trends to help merchants prepare for the golden quarter

Reinventing Cognac

Published: 22 October, 2018

Cognac has two faces, neither of which appeal to millennial consumers. James Lawrence finds a spirit trying to revitalise its image

Reaching the last mile

Published: 17 October, 2018

Fulfilling those “last mile” orders is expensive – especially for small businesses, but there are innovations that could help businesses better reach their local customer base.

Tipping point

Published: 17 October, 2018

The government has revealed plans to help ensure hospitality workers get all the tips left for them, but reactions to the news were mixed, reports Michelle Perrett.

Wine online pulls in punters

Published: 15 October, 2018

As a complementary offering to bricks and mortar wine retailing, online is proving a lucrative option, reports Lisa Riley

Argentina currency collapse could boost premium wine exports.

Published: 11 October, 2018

In the last week of August there was more than a little flurry of activity for the emerging markets trading sector of Wall Street as the Argentinian peso collapsed yet again. Those in the UK and global wine trade tuned in to assess how this might affect the price and positioning of Argentina and its punter-pulling flagship Malbec.

Think Whisky 2018: Wising up to whisky

Published: 08 October, 2018

Despite being the second biggest spirits category in the UK, accounting for 21% of sales (Nielsen/CGA, year to June 2018), big opportunities exist for whisk(e)y if it can grow engagement with women and younger adults, who currently shy away from the category.

Attracting Talent

Published: 03 October, 2018

Speaking to Harpers in our August issue, Berry Bros & Rudd chief executive Dan Jago made a strong case for the trade to better promote the career opportunities that exist within. The trade itself, he argued, had done much to shift from being a lifestyle choice to a more dynamic, professional world, offering exciting and diverse opportunities for those who entered, backed by quality training.

The many faces of gin

Published: 01 October, 2018

Thanks to gin’s unwaning popularity, on-trade operators are faced with a challenge when it comes to selecting from the plethora of new products and styles on offer. Clinton Cawood is here to help

Indies brave the storm

Published: 26 September, 2018

With the likes of an undetermined Brexit and poor 2017 harvest to deal with, how are independents coping? Lisa Riley reports

Harpers reveals 50 Best Indies

Published: 25 September, 2018

Harpers unveiled the result of this year’s 50 Best Indies competition at a prestigious event held last night in the capital, with Vagabond Wines once again claiming the top spot followed by Oxford Wine Company and Berry Bros & Rudd.

Capturing the impulse purchaser

Published: 20 September, 2018

"Online sales are motoring ahead, while bricks and mortar stores struggle to withstand the domino effect taking down traditional retail.”

A natural approach

Published: 20 September, 2018

Small, but perfectly formed, Austria’s winemaking fraternity continues to innovate, looking increasingly towards natural methods, as Darrel Joseph reports.

Stoking Sicily's Fire

Published: 13 September, 2018

Sicily’s ever more accomplished yet very individual wines are gaining ground. Andrew Catchpole reports

Brexit survey: Who's afraid of the big bad B word?

Published: 12 September, 2018

In the lead-up to next month’s scheduled EU summit, Jo Gilbert sets out to discover what the trade really thinks of Brexit, how it has impacted business so far and what is yet to come

Chile: Pushing boundaries and twisting tradition

Published: 10 September, 2018

As emerging players in Chile are shaking up the status quo, pushing its premium offer and reinvigorating the wine scene, Alistair Cooper asks if the UK is on board

Top 50 Wholesalers

Published: 06 September, 2018

Introducing our 2018 ranking of the drinks wholesale businesses that are doing the most to influence, improve and drive forward the supply of quality wines, beers and spirits in the UK