Business & Finance - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Bacardi and Brown-Forman end longstanding UK sales partnership

Published: 01 August, 2019

Bacardi and Brown-Forman are to end their UK collaboration, the companies have revealed.

Brexit costs rising across trade, new WSTA report reveals

Published: 23 July, 2019

The UK drinks industry is investing heavily to counter the risk of a no-deal Brexit, a new survey of its members by the WSTA has revealed.

International spirits industry unites behind new global body

Published: 10 July, 2019

Many of the world’s leading spirits producers have partnered to create a new global organisation for the industry, it was announced in Geneva yesterday.

US private equity fund set to snap up Majestic

Published: 03 July, 2019

Majestic’s retail business is close to being sold to US private equity house Fortress for £100m, according to Sky News.

UK retains top five status as global market for still and sparkling imports

Published: 22 May, 2019

The UK remains the world’s second biggest importer of still and sparkling wine, analysts have confirmed - despite the era of high volume wine sales being “over for good”.

Scotch Whisky fuels the UK by £5.5bn

Published: 30 April, 2019

Scotch Whisky now contributes £5.5billion to the UK economy, up 10% since 2016, according to the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).

MPs urged to make no ‘no deal’ official before March 29

Published: 14 March, 2019

Last night’s vote to remove the possibility of a no deal scenario from the Brexit table has resulted in a sigh of relief from the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) as well as other corners of the trade.

Bibendum counteracts the “vanilla” effect of the Conviviality machine

Published: 13 March, 2019

Bibendum PLB is back on top form after veering away from Conviviality’s “one-size fits all approach”, according to one of its top bosses.

Matthew Clark comes out fighting fit after major restructure

Published: 06 March, 2019

National wholesaler Matthew Clark says it is firmly back on track, with a far-reaching restructure of the business completed and having “delivered one of the best Christmas in terms of service and performance”, according to managing director David Phillips (pictured above).

Portman group tackles ‘offensive marketing’ in sixth code of practice

Published: 05 March, 2019

UK alcohol regulator the Portman Group has updated its packaging and promotional guidance for society’s evolving standards, including a new rule around ‘offence’.

Chancellor’s wine hikes to go live at midnight

Published: 01 February, 2019

The wine industry is being warned to prepare for today’s rise in duty, which will push up a bottle of still wine by 7p to £2.23 overnight.

Brexit: WSTA launches #NoToNoDeal campaign

Published: 20 November, 2018

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has warned MPs ‘don’t bottle it’, while urging wine and spirit businesses to get behind a campaign that makes clear that a no deal Brexit would be unacceptable to the UK drinks industry.

Global wine markets: China shines as Brexit Britain picks up wooden spoon

Published: 13 November, 2018

The second annual ProWein Business Report looking at the attractiveness of international export markets for wine has placed China in pole position for the first time.

Ban on post duty point dilution could hammer British made and low abv wine

Published: 05 November, 2018

A change to legislation in the 2018 Budget policy document could have a significant impact on products made from concentrate in the UK, including British made wine, low abv wines, RTDs, sherry-style drinks and flavoured ciders – anything which is diluted after fermentation.

As Brexit looms, is this the worst-timed duty rise in wine's history?

Published: 31 October, 2018

An inflationary rise for alcohol will kick in on February 1 – less than two months before the UK officially leaves the EU, further squeezing businesses stockpiling and looking to plan ahead. Harpers looks at what this means for a great British industry

Duty frozen for spirits, cider and beer, but wine will rise with inflation

Published: 29 October, 2018

Investing in Britain’s future was one of the anthems that ran through Philip Hammond’s autumn Budget speech this afternoon.

Asia drives strong Q1 growth at Pernod Ricard

Published: 18 October, 2018

Pernod Ricard’s first quarter figures revealed strong growth underpinned by China and India the Asian markets.

Argentina currency collapse could boost premium wine exports.

Published: 11 October, 2018

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.

UK winemakers lobby government to scrap “damaging” planned tax rises

Published: 08 October, 2018

Winemakers in England and Wales have banded together to try and convince the government to rethink plans for a duty hike that could hamper exports and stifle growth.