World Cup drinks sales to top £1bn but dry up as tournament reaches its end

As we enter the final stage of the World Cup it seems the great British public is ready to put down its pint glass as well as turn off the football on television.

The Wine Chambers: bringing quality wine to the north east

Ben Chambers, owner of The Wine Chambers stores in Tynemouth and North Shields, talks about the difficulty of buying quality wine in the north east, the superiority of bottled-at-source wine and what keeps customers returning.

Calling all drinks businesses: share your Responsibility Deal successes

Following this week's public backing of the drinks industry by the government for the work it has done to comply with the Responsibility Deal, Harpers is now giving drinks businesses the chance to share and publicise the efforts they have made.

Harpers Low-Alcohol Wine Report: Subscribers download here

Try as it might, the UK wine trade has yet to crack the low-alcohol wine category, according to a new Harpers report published today.

Over 55s increasingly happy with new smart technology to buy online

Drinks brands and retailers looking to target the key over 55 grey market should do so through smartphones, tablets and the internet as the older generation becomes increasingly comfortable with technology.

Screw cap grows in popularity in UK and Australia, but Americans lag behind

Americans are still wary of screw cap closures for wine, while their British and Australian counterparts are much more accepting.

Retailers and suppliers yet to crack low-alcohol wine, says Harpers report

Try as it might, the UK wine trade has yet to crack the low-alcohol wine category, according to a new Harpers report published today.

Tesco tries out wine tastings for customers at home

Ted Sandbach, Oxford Wine Company: what I want from my suppliers

As an independent wine merchant one of the important and challenging jobs is how we deal and negotiate with suppliers. These can be large national companies or small boutique operations and we could be dealing with anything from the old fashioned "rep" to owners, directors or winemakers.

No sign of slowdown in sparkling wine growth

Sparkling wine sales are showing no signs of slowing down - volumes rocketed 20% in the second quarter of 2014.

Guy Woodward: no more ivory tower posturing, let's get personal with consumers

Harpers is pleased to announce it has signed up Guy Woodward, former editor of Decanter, as a regular columnist and contributor.This month he tips his cap to the creative minds at Naked Wines and other innovative retail sites that are genuinely communicating to consumers in a way they can understand and says there are so many lessons to be learnt from the old school wine trade still stuck in its ivory tower. 

Naked Wines has 50% increase in number of Angels and 40% sales growth in 2013

Naked Wines released it financial performance results today for 2013 which includes a 40% increase in sales reaching £53 million driven by a 50% increase in the number of Angel investors.

France Summit to focus on how the country is adapting to UK consumer needs

Harpers will once again be turning the spotlight well and truly on the ins and outs, ups and downs of the French wine category as the French Summit returns for its second year on October 21 at London's St Ermin's Hotel.

How retailers are using consumers to drive their brand image and strategy

The new, all-singing, all-dancing London Wine Fair was an apt setting for Harpers debate on how companies can harness consumer power to drive their businesses forward.

Independent wine merchants report sales hikes of up to 30%

Independent wine merchants are going from strength to strength in the UK, with a straw poll showing sales up by between 20 and 30%.

Why wine clubs need up their game to fully engage with their members

Hannah Saunders, international and UK business development director for contract publishing company, Cedar Communications, assesses the merits of the retailer wine clubs and finds many could take lessons from other sectors on how to fully engage and interact with their customers and members.

Beermoth looks to bring US style beer retailing to Manchester

Specialist beer shops have joined the 21^st century, among them Beermoth, in central Manchester's hip northern quarter, and set up by Scot Davies, a former manager at the city's The Knott bar, and American Jeremy Stull, who worked at the esteemed Port Street Beer house.

Wine Vision to focus on how industry must adapt to millennials' needs

Wine Vision's return to London in November will examine key issues affecting growth in the industry as relationships between wine brands and consumers change and competition from spirits and beer intensifies.

Nik Darlington plays out the World Cup for real - with the world of wine

You could cut the tension with a grissino. The shoot-out was tied at 2-2, both sides' fans on tenterhooks.

Costco set to launch new craft beer offer

Costco Wholesale UK is poised to break into the craft beer market, the £1.7bn turnover warehouse club chain has revealed.