Research - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

UK pub closures have doubled in last three months

Published: 10 October, 2022

The number of pubs closing across the country, having called last orders for the final time, has rocketed by 50% in the last three months.

London seated diner numbers fall short of pre-pandemic levels

Published: 05 October, 2022

According to data from OpenTable, the global restaurant booking system, dining numbers in London are falling short of pre-pandemic levels.

Climate Change could make UK leading red wine producer

Published: 17 August, 2022

The average growing season temperature (typically between April-October) in UK wine regions is currently estimated to be 14°C – an increase of 1°C since 1981.

Calls for Northern Ireland MUP to create a ‘level playing field’

Published: 16 August, 2022

Northern Ireland appears to be inching closer to the introduction of minimum unit pricing (MUP) for alcohol after neighbours Republic of Ireland and Scotland introduced the legislation in January 2022 and May 2018, respectively.

On-trade favours major gin brands over small-batch

Published: 12 August, 2022

According to market research by Shepper, the UK’s on-trade and hospitality outlets prefer to serve leading gin and tonic brands as their house products instead of supporting local and small-batch counterparts.

Value of spirits on the up reports IWSR

Published: 02 August, 2022

According to IWSR data, spirits has been the clear winner when it comes to value generation over the past few years: the average global price per serving for spirits (excluding national spirits such as baijiu) rose at a CAGR of +3.8% between 2016 and 2021, ahead of wine (+3.4%), beer (+2.3%), RTDs (+1.4%) and cider (+1.1%).

Portman Group pushes back against claims made in alcohol hospital admissions report

Published: 26 July, 2022

Two new studies from the University of Sheffield and the Institute of Alcohol Studies/HealthLumen have revealed the impact of pandemic-related changes in alcohol consumption on health outcomes.

Virgin Wines announce 51% sales increase for its vegan range

Published: 25 July, 2022

Sales of vegan wine have more than doubled for Virgin Wines in the last two years, rising by 51%.

Study predicts growth in UK wine production due to climate change

Published: 08 July, 2022

New research has revealed how climate change is likely to increase potential wine production in the UK, with conditions projected to resemble those in famous growing regions of France and Germany.

UK eating-out market set to value £95.2 billion in 2022 +4% versus 2019

Published: 22 June, 2022

According to the new Lumina Intelligence Eating Out Market Report, the UK on-trade is set to value £95.2 billion in 2022, +4% versus its 2019 value, meaning that inflation is outpacing market growth.

Cost-of-living crisis and staff shortages threaten £36bn hospitality and leisure growth

Published: 17 June, 2022

A new report warns today that the cost-of-living crisis could severely hamper the hospitality and leisure sector’s post-pandemic recovery amid a widespread lack of staff.

The Rum Renaissance: Is Rum the new Gin?

Published: 28 April, 2022

A report by Campari Group UK explains why rum is a key growth area in the on and off-trade, as the category plays into central consumer and shopper trends influencing the market.

Customers are crying out for support when buying wine KAM research finds

Published: 27 April, 2022

New research out this week shows that 1-in-3 customers don’t feel confident ordering wine in pubs, bars and restaurants, with 1-in-9 admitting that they often find the experience intimidating.

Footprint releases drinks sustainability report

Published: 07 April, 2022

Today, the 2022 Footprint Drinks Industry ESG Trends Report has been launched to help businesses develop a proactive sustainability strategy.

And the Oscar goes to… Bond and Bordeaux

Published: 25 March, 2022

For 92 years, the Oscars has been the most significant awards ceremony in the movie industry. Over the last nine decades, thousands of films have collected awards in various categories, from Best Picture to Best Special Effects. A large majority of those will feature some degree of alcohol consumption, incidental or otherwise.

London hospitality struggling the most post-covid

Published: 01 March, 2022

Hospitality sectors in major British cities including Bristol and Manchester are recovering their vibrancy as Covid restrictions wind down, according to new research.

Portman Group labels Drinking in the Dark report “utter nonsense”

Published: 26 August, 2020

The Portman Group has issued a strong rebuttal to a new report from the Alcohol Health Alliance (AHA) which calls alcohol labelling in the UK “inadequate”.

Low alcohol wine still losing out to mocktails and beer

Published: 12 July, 2018

We know that consumers are more health conscious than ever before, with sustainably sourced avocado on toast becoming the zeitgeist for a generation which is also increasingly moderating its alcohol consumption.

Portman Group rebuts claim it advised removal of CMO guidance as RSPH pushes hard hitting labelling

Published: 26 January, 2018

The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) has released proposals for a hard-hitting new alcohol labelling scheme in the face of what it describes as an “alcohol health awareness vacuum”.