Business & Finance - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

M&S to close 60 clothing and home stores but grow its Simply Food chain

Published: 08 November, 2016

Marks & Spencer is planning a major re-structure to focus on its food and drinks offering, after profits plunged 88%.

"Biggest ever" Halloween boosts sales at Morrisons

Published: 03 November, 2016

High street retailer Morrisons saw a boost to its seasonal trading sales thanks to Halloween, where sales are up 20% year-on-year.

Revenues double at Conviviality following "transformational" year

Published: 01 November, 2016

Conviviality Plc has reported strong growth across all three of its new business units, formed following the acquisition of Matthew Clark and Bibendum PLB.

Wine and spirits hit £4bn in duty revenues for the Exchequer

Published: 31 October, 2016

Duty contributions for the wine and spirits industry has hit the £4bn benchmark for the first time, with alcohol sales hitting an all-time high.

First wine, now spirits set to take a hit with rise in inflation and duty to slap a further £60m on consumers

Published: 25 October, 2016

The price of a bottle of wine and spirits is facing a major hike if duty rises in line with inflation, industry experts have warned.

Acquisitions and partnerships: Alhambra, Calabria Wines and AdVini

Published: 20 October, 2016

A leading Spanish brewery, a French wine company and New South Wales winemakers have announced new partnerships and takeovers this week in the hope of extending their reach to key international markets.

Pernod Ricard beats expectations as Jameson drives growth in the UK and US

Published: 20 October, 2016

The world's number two wines and spirits producer has performed better than expected since April, with sales of Jameson emerging as the main growth driver.

Brexit: Prices hikes and freezes abound as stalwarts review prices

Published: 19 October, 2016

With the price of consumer favourites such as Marmite, chocolate and cheese set to rise, the drinks trade is having to make tough choices on how to cope with the devaluation of the pound.

Independent merchants feel pressure as supplier price hikes start to feed through

Published: 17 October, 2016

The Bank of England warned of inflation rising beyond 2% on 14 October adding further concern to independent wine merchants who have already been forced to pass on price increases from suppliers to customers

Stock Spirits acquires three new brands to bolster key markets

Published: 13 October, 2016

Major spirits producer Stock Spirits is incorporating three new producers to its arsenal.

Beaujolais UK exports jump for second year in a row

Published: 13 October, 2016

Beaujolais exports to the UK have enjoyed a second year of encouraging growth, with volume up 18% and value up 20.9% between July 2015 and July 2016.

Asahi completes Miller Brands UK acquisition

Published: 12 October, 2016

Japanese brewing giant Asahi has completed its acquistion of Miller Brands UK and the creation of Asahi UK, the company announced today.

Wines and spirits continue to drive growth for LVMH amid luxury market slowdown

Published: 11 October, 2016

The wine and spirits division represented the second highest growth area for LVMH in its sales so far this year, with organic growth up 7%.

Bolney Wine Estates to double production with £2m investment

Published: 10 October, 2016

West Sussex vineyard Bolney Wine Estates is set to announce a £2m investment this week, the Guardian has reported.

New British Champagne house claims to offer Champagne for the digital age

Published: 10 October, 2016

A British-based holding company is claiming to be the first major prospective champagne house to open since Nicholas Feuillatte in 1972.

National Champagne Week a welcome boost for struggling category

Published: 06 October, 2016

The UK has been popping bubbly this week for National Champagne Week - a much needed boost for the category which has seen a slow down in growth over the past year.

Another rise in sales as Tesco recovery continues

Published: 05 October, 2016

Sales at the UK's biggest grocery retailer have now risen for three quarters in a row following an all time low last year as it struggled to fend off stiff competition from the discounters.

Martin Willams' M Restaurants raises £900,000 of crowdfunding target in four hours

Published: 03 October, 2016

London restaurant chain M Restaurant has raised over half of its crowdfunding campaign target in under four hours, bringing the total up to £900,000.

Martin Willams' M Restaurants to crowdfund group expansion

Published: 29 September, 2016

M Restaurant group is looking to add a third site called M SOCIAL as well as expand the use of the some of the current space at the M Threadneedle site and plans to finance the expansion by raising £1.5m on the Seedrs crowd-funding platform.

Sainsbury's sales dip further as it battles it out with discounters

Published: 29 September, 2016

Sainsbury's second quarter results show that the ongoing price wars are taking a toll on the retailer as like - for - like sales dipped a further 1.1%.