Christmas and spirits go hand in hand, with festive sparkle helping to boost the sales of retailers and operators who can convince consumers to shop with them. Jo Gilbert sits down with brand owners and distributors working to make this Christmas the best one yet.
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It’s been just over a decade since North Dakota, the final state to host a winery, joined the party, adding to the substantial growth of many states’ wine tourism and consequent direct consumer sales. California’s primacy remains constant, though its share of US production continues to slide from what
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Following The Vineking’s soft opening of The Tasting Rooms in Reigate last month, Lisa Riley meets the brains behind the new venture and hears about the raison d’être – accessibility
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Leading lights from Oregon and Washington talk Andrew Catchpole through the trends and developments in their respective states
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At first glance, the day-to-day logistics of running a bonded warehouse is scarcely of any interest to the wider trade, let alone consumers. Regarded as a prosaic stepping stone in the overall supply chain, firms such as Berry Bros & Rudd (BBR) have been managing these “holding bays” for decades, a regulated space where imported goods that are intended for export can be stored without actually entering the UK market. Duty and VAT payments are deferred until the wine is sold or removed from the bonded warehouse. It’s that simple.
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Travelling with fellow MWs in the Golden State, Natasha Hughes MW delves far beyond the usual suspects.
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Chris Wilson looks at the age-old conundrum – how can fortified wine break away from its seasonal reputation?
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US wines have been generating an unprecedented buzz in the UK. Andrew Catchpole discovers why
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Less is often more when it comes to turning a profit says consultant Sean Finter, a master at optimising returns from on-trade businesses. Harpers tuned in to his message at Bar Convent in Berlin.
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Drawing on sparkling wine research carried out with Wines Direct, Harpers assesses the state of play
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As the French region looks to revitalise its reputation, Lisa Riley meets the growers introducing greener methods and pursuing organic certification
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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
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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.
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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
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Cognac has two faces, neither of which appeal to millennial consumers. James Lawrence finds a spirit trying to revitalise its image
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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.
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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.
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As a complementary offering to bricks and mortar wine retailing, online is proving a lucrative option, reports Lisa Riley
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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.
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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.
