Pernod extends Wincanton partnership

Pernod Ricard has renewed its long-standing partnership with Wincanton in the UK.

Profits jump 25% at Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is celebrating rising profits of 25% in the first half of the 2018 fiscal year, with growth driven by stronger demand in China, India and at its travel retail division.

‘Time running out’ for wine & spirits free trade warns WTSA

Representatives from the UK and European drinks industries have called on politicians to ensure the cross border free trade of wine & spirits remains post Brexit.

Conviviality Retail to ‘accelerate growth’ with £25M acquisition of over 100 Central Convenience Stores

Conviviality, the alcohol wholesaler, distributor and high street retailer, is to buy 109 convenience stores from failed Palmer & Harvey (P&H) through its subsidiary Bargain Booze.

Leaked documents show UK will stay in single market

The UK will remain a member of the EU's customs union and single market between 2019 and 2021 according to a leaked copy of European Council guidelines for upcoming trade talks.

Crunching currency

The impact of Brexit on sterling has been a major factor in 2017 trade. Industry insider Hamish Gillespie, finance director at North South Wines, explores how best to mitigate the downside

BrewDog and Cult Wines on fast-track to success

Scotland’s largest independent brewer, a northern pub and restaurant operator and London based fine wine merchant are the three stand out drinks companies to have made it into this year’s list of the UK’s fastest growing businesses.

“Mutual recognition” at borders could help facilitate post-Brexit trade

Brexit talks floundered once again yesterday as PM Theresa May was forced to pull out of a deal with Brussels following a row with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) over the status of the Irish border.

Hammond's white cider clamp-down could unfairly hit artisanal producers

CAMRA, the body which represents the interests of the UK beer and cider industry, has expressed concerns that artisanal cider producers who producer higher ABV products could be tarred by the same brush which is intended to increase duty on high-alcohol, cheaply made ciders.

Naked Wines boosts Majestic half year performance

Majestic Wine said it is ready to “put our foot on the gas and accelerate growth” on unveiling its half year results today.

Supreme Court clears path for 50p-per-unit minimum pricing in Scotland

Scotland is set to become the first country to introduce minimum unit pricing (MUP) on alcohol after the UK Supreme Court rejected a challenge by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).

EU and UK wines and spirits chiefs launch joint Brexit proposition paper

European and UK bodies responsible for the wider wine and spirit industry have joined together to publish a joint position paper to outline their stance on Brexit.

Price-savvy Brits look to eastern Europe as Majestic sales soar 400%

Eastern European wine sales are up 400% at Majestic as Brits look to avoid price hikes due to the impact of Brexit.

TWE's Tom King joins the WSTA board

Dan Townsend’s successor at Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has joined the board of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

Investors “lose confidence” in M&S following food and drink decline

A disappointing drop in food and drink sales at Marks & Spencer has put a dampener on CEO Steven Rowe’s recovery plan for the retailer. 

Majestic Wine ‘past tipping point’ as £1.5m loss offset by rising footfall and sales

Majestic Wine’s full-year reported profit before tax has revealed a loss of £1.5 million, set against a 15.8% rise in sales and 12% growth in the company’s customer base to 825,000 active customers.

D&D Wines: Angove’s five year battle to get paid

Many readers will recall the collapse of D&D Wines in 2012, leaving numerous wine suppliers from around the world owed large amounts of money for wine supplied. In such cases there is not usually much left for unsecured creditors once the liquidators have taken their fees. However, Australian producer Angove Family Winemakers was in an unusual position, which gave it a prospect of being paid in full. But Angove had to battle with D&D’s liquidators for nearly five years, and all the way to the UK Supreme Court, to obtain payment.

BrewDog UK sales jump 97%

Craft beer darling BrewDog has revealed turnover of £72 million in 2016.

Sales almost double at Conviviality

Mixers see highest growth of soft drinks driven by health trend and premiumisation

The Fever Tree effect is responsible for the rapid growth of mixers over the past 12 months.