The Smith Report: Life beyond the back of the bar

With rising demand for on-trade consultants, bar staff now have ample opportunities out of house. At last month's Bols Business Class in Bristol leaders discussed what it takes to get started.

Analysis: Croatian, Slovenian and Turkish wines are offering really points of difference

Croatia, Slovenia and Turkey are increasingly recognised as fertile territory for wines offering real points of difference.

Insights: The rise of rum

Spiced rums and quality sipping products are driving the thirst for a taste of the Caribbean.

Keys to building your indie business Part 4: Making the most of events

At the first Think Indie, Drink Indie event, successful merchants shared best practices and avenues to consider when looking to expand. Here is the first of a four part series covering different areas independent merchants should consider in expanding their businesses. Topics covered included why wholesaling is good for indies, how the hybrid model can be great for retail, what to consider when expanding online and the how to maximise the value of events.

Keys to building your indie business Part 3: Wholesale improvement - developing your operation

At the first Think Indie, Drink Indie event, successful merchants shared best practices and avenues to consider when looking to expand. Here is the first of a four part series covering different areas independent merchants should consider in expanding their businesses. Topics covered included why wholesaling is good for indies, how the hybrid model can be great for retail, what to consider when expanding online and the how to maximise the value of events.

Insights: Implications of the entry point for wine into the UK

The supply chain for wine is often long and complex and one of the most important decisions is where to bring the product into the UK.

Keys to building your indie business Part 2: How to capitalise on the off-into-on-trade offer

At the first Think Indie, Drink Indie event, successful merchants shared best practices and avenues to consider when looking to expand. Here is the first of a four part series covering different areas independent merchants should consider in expanding their businesses. Topics covered included why wholesaling is good for indies, how the hybrid model can be great for retail, what to consider when expanding online and the how to maximise the value of events.

Insights: The rise of direct-to-consumer retailing

With products facing ever-increasing competition for shelf space, Angela Mount looks at how brands are cutting out the middlemen

Keys to building your indie business Part 1: World Wine Web

At the first Think Indie, Drink Indie event, successful merchants shared best practices and avenues to consider when looking to expand. Here is the first of a four part series covering different areas independent merchants should consider in expanding their businesses. Topics covered included why wholesaling is good for indies, how the hybrid model can be great for retail, what to consider when expanding online and the how to maximise the value of events.

Tequila 3

Analysis:

Insights: What could Brexit mean for bulk wine?

As the pound-to-Euro exchange rate takes a battering, bulk buying from the eurozone has suddenly become a less attractive prospect. What kind of impact will this have on both sides of the Channel?

Insights: Is cash or profit margin king when it comes to the on-trade?

How are on-trade outlets measuring the health of their business today?

Insights: Do wine preservation systems engage consumers or not?

Wine preservation technology encourages consumers to engage with new wines, but are they practical to the point of impersonal?

The Week That Was: Top news, Q&As and analysis on Harpers.co.uk

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have done a review of the top online news, financial news for the drinks trade, Q&As, and opinion stories.

Analysis: Is consolidation a challenge to the traditional importer business model?

With consolidation rife and buying patterns changing are the roles of UK wine distributors changing?

Analysis: Generation Riesling's young winemakers are changing the country's wine image

In just 10 short years, Generation Riesling's young producers have created game-changing momentum.

Insights: What does the currency rollercoaster mean for the UK wine trade?

Following the referendum vote and the UK voting to leave the European Union, currency has been in a state of flux. What could it mean for the trade in the long term?

The Week That Was: Top news, Q&As and analysis on Harpers.co.uk

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have done a review of the top online news, financial news for the drinks trade, Q&As, and opinion stories.

Insights: Italy's Montalcino producers are adapting and looking to the future

As one of Italy's best known DOCGs Montalcino is slowly remodulating to changing consumer habits and patterns of demand.