Analysis & Insights - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Argentina: Buying into blends

Published: 06 August, 2020

Looking beyond Malbec and to the myriad blends on offer from Argentina is key to unlocking the country’s rich array of grape varieties, writes Chris Wilson.

Retaining the online bonanza

Published: 04 August, 2020

With life returning to a version of normality, independents that gained extra sales are now once more facing their old competitors. Lisa Riley finds out how they are coping

Big debate: How Covid-19 will prove a catalyst for change

Published: 30 July, 2020

Leading suppliers joined Andrew Catchpole in our recent Harnessing the Crisis for Change webinar to look at how Covid-19 will shape the road ahead.

Hospitality needs customers if it's to stop going hungry

Published: 28 July, 2020

The hospitality sector is beginning to reopen, but it needs many more customers if its future is to be secured. By Andrew Catchpole

Soft drinks come of age

Published: 14 July, 2020

As the Coronavirus crisis fuels interest in health and wellness, Lucy Britner examines the future of functional drinks in a post-pandemic world

Import-export webinar: A Taste of New York

Published: 10 July, 2020

Andrew Catchpole brought together leading NY state winemakers with UK merchants to explore Indie Opportunities from the Empire State

Shakedown looms for English and Welsh spirits

Published: 06 July, 2020

A restructure could be on the cards for the English and Welsh spirits sector, as pressure from an impending recession begins to squeeze brands at either end of the price spectrum. Jo Gilbert reports

New Zealand: Working with nature

Published: 03 July, 2020

New Zealand is one of the best-placed wine-producing countries to get the sustainability message across to consumers. Andrew Catchpole reports on how this paragon of environmental friendliness is furthering its green credentials

Off-Piste Wines: Rewriting the rules

Published: 01 July, 2020

Covid-19 came at a tricky time for Off-Piste Wines, which was forging ahead with plans to put an £8m investment to good use this summer. Jo Gilbert caught up with MD Andy Talbot to find out what Plan B looks like for this forward-thinking business.

Southern harvest lessons: Picking the moment

Published: 29 June, 2020

Southern hemisphere winemakers share the lessons learned from crisis harvesting. By Jo Gilbert.

Bulking up

Published: 26 June, 2020

Bulk wine has had to rise to the challenge of increased global demand for supermarket-bought, commercially driven wines, overcoming supply challenges and container shortages. Jo Gilbert looks at how it’s stepped up to the mark

Post-pandemic staffing

Published: 22 June, 2020

With a shortage of qualified on-trade staff an industry issue pre Covid-19, what will be the outcome for those that weather lockdown? Chris Losh reports.

Trade talk: Thinking Independent

Published: 17 June, 2020

With the on-trade shut-down ramping up trade for many independents, Andrew Catchpole brought together merchants for a discussion on business adaptation and how to retain that new custom into the future.

In spitting distance of Covid-19

Published: 15 June, 2020

At the onset of the ongoing global pandemic, traditional on-trade channels saw sales fall to zero overnight. But what about the wider drinks trade and the interactions within it? Jo Gilbert asks if it's time to reassess tried – and maybe tired – formulas?

On-trade opening

Published: 10 June, 2020

When the on-trade starts to re-emerge it faces myriad challenges in this altered world, as Andrew Catchpole reports

Alcohol sales knocked by lockdown

Published: 08 June, 2020

Despite the marked shift from on-trade to home drinking, lockdown could still leave a sobering £7bn hole in total UK alcohol sales, as Andrew Catchpole reports.

Chile rising high

Published: 03 June, 2020

Consumers have come to expect value from Chilean wine, says James Lawrence, so how can they be encouraged to trade up?

Innovation Report: Boundary-crossing beverages

Published: 01 June, 2020

Drinks companies are stepping out when it comes to the no and low category. Lucy Britner looks at some of the more innovative offers.

How low can we all go?

Published: 29 May, 2020

As lockdown continues and consumers settle into new ways of life, will the nolo category get more of a look in? Lisa Riley reports

Innovation Survey: All change

Published: 27 May, 2020

For this year's Innovation Focus, Harpers once again surveyed the trade to uncover the latest business-improving innovations in the drinks world. Andrew Catchpole reports on the findings.