Multiple Retailer - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Morrisons to cut 2,600 jobs

Published: 19 June, 2014

Morrisons is planning to cut 2,600 jobs as a result of a new management structure in stores.

Drinks trade backs England to drive sales during World Cup

Published: 19 June, 2014

The drinks trade is eagerly anticipating tonight's England match to drive beer consumption across the on and off-trade - although one in 10 pub goers will choose wine as their match tipple.

Independent merchants who work together can boost sales by £30k per year

Published: 17 June, 2014

Independent merchants who work together on the high street could boost their sales by up to £30,000 annually, according to a new report from American Express.

Underage alcohol sales have fallen, but proxy purchasing is rising

Published: 17 June, 2014

Retailers have made major progress in driving down underage alcohol sales, but proxy purchasing is on the increase, according to a new report.

Majestic boss says wine price inflation has stymied growth

Published: 17 June, 2014

Speaking to Harpers.co.uk following the group's results yesterday, Steve Lewis described the group's total sales growth of 1.4% to £278.2 million as "not where I'd want it to be", adding that the combination of poor harvests and duty increases had made for "difficult trading conditions".

Wine trade has lucrative opportunity through mobile technology

Published: 16 June, 2014

The wine industry has historically been slow to cash in on mobile technology, but the time is right for the trade to ramp up its approach.

Majestic Wine profits flat in 'difficult year' as investment planned

Published: 16 June, 2014

Majestic Wine has reported a small dip in like-for-like sales, down 0.1%, but fine wine sales have rocketed by a fifth while Provence rosé is up 84%.

Wine still one of the most heavily promoted grocery categories

Published: 12 June, 2014

Almost six out of every 10 bottles of wine are sold on promotion in the UK, according to figures from Nielsen for the past year.

BrewDog sees profits skyrocket to £2.3 million

Published: 09 June, 2014

Maverick Scottish brewer and pub operator BrewDog has seen its profits skyrocket by 383% to £2.3 million for 2013, with turnover up 70% to £18 million.

Rioja needs own wine trade tasting week to compete at top end

Published: 09 June, 2014

Rioja needs to introduce its own trade tasting week, if it is to compete at the top end with Bordeaux or Burgundy, says a senior UK buyer.

Laithwaite's pioneers online recommendations with Amazon-style service

Published: 05 June, 2014

Laithwaite's is offering customers Amazon-style tasting recommendations based on an algorithm that creates a taste fingerprint for each wine on its website.

Britain's shoppers now too savvy to buy solely on promotion, says Nielsen

Published: 03 June, 2014

Britain's grocery shoppers are no longer tempted to buy just because something's on promotion, according to data from analysts Nielsen.

Corks Out and Le Vignoble are Top Merchants of the Year in Harpers Awards

Published: 03 June, 2014

Corks Out in the North West and Le Vignoble in Plymouth have been named best large and small Top Merchants of the Year in the Harpers Awards 2014 announced last night at London's Hurlingham Club.

Morrisons wins the battle of the multiples at Harpers Awards 2014

Published: 03 June, 2014

Morrisons was the big supermarket winner at last night's Harpers Awards 2014 held at London's Hurlingham Club picking up both the overall Best Multiple Drinks Retailer of the Year and the Best Multiple Online Drinks Retailer of the Year awards.

London Wine Fair opens with Harpers debate on consumer power

Published: 02 June, 2014

How companies can successfully harness consumer power as the central point of their business strategy will be the theme of this morning's Harpers debate on the opening day of the London Wine Fair.

Harpers Awards 2014 winners announced at London's Hurlingham Club

Published: 02 June, 2014

Morrisons, Naked Wines, Bibendum, Corks Out, Vinoteca and the Chiltern Fire House were some of the big name winners announced tonight at the Harpers Awards at London's Hurlingham Club.

Tesco's Laura Jewell hits out at suppliers that fail to understand how multiples operate

Published: 30 May, 2014

Laura Jewell MW, head of Tesco's wine development team, has hit out at suppliers that fail to understand the needs of major retailers.

Logistics case studies

Published: 30 May, 2014

Case studies from Tesco, Matthew Clark, Enotria, Berry Bros & Rudd, Liberty Wines, Laithwaite's Wine and Jascots Wine Merchants

Own-label Champagne sales lose their fizz says Lanson research

Published: 30 May, 2014

Retailer and own-label Champagne brands have plummeted 16% by value according to the latest category report from Champagne house Lanson.

Tesco's Laura Jewell MW on what she wants from wine suppliers

Published: 30 May, 2014

In the first of a series of buyer-to-buyer interviews, Angela Mount talks to Laura Jewell MW about her role as Tesco's wine category product development manager and what she is looking for from her suppliers