Justin Keay digs deep into Italy in the off-trade, taking his microscope to the supermarkets’ Italian ranges and discovering what indie customers are demanding from their local merchants.
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Teaming up to bring in ad hoc shipments is ushering in a new wave of collaboration between like-minded independents. Chris Wilson weighs the practicalities and benefits
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The countdown is on to the big reveal of the UK’s 50 Best Indies awards on 9th September.
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There is a point on every trip, once travel fatigue has passed and the daily rhythm of tasting, talking and tucker becomes the norm, when a borrowed moment of freedom over a bottle of wine captures the spirit of the tour. During a recent indie merchant buyers trip to Australia this came in the refreshingly left-field shape of a magnum of Brash Higgins Zibibbo, providing a rather early sundowner in the leafy garden of the McLaren Vale Motel, as the group relaxed ahead of a big tasting and dinner.
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A Harpers survey on the current effects and possible outcomes of Brexit has revealed that 73% of on and off-trade businesses believe the vote has already had a negative impact on their business.
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Talk into an indie merchant in 2018 and while you may be faced with wall upon wall of wine from here, there and everywhere, you’re just as likely to encounter a kaleidoscopic display of beers and ciders in bottles, cans, growlers and kegs.
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We asked leading indie merchants how they approach buying and what they will be hunting out for 2018. Philip Amps, Greg Sherwood MW and Henry Butler explain the method (and occassional madness) in planning for the year ahead:
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Vindependents, the drinks agency for independents run by independents, is going from strength to strength but the buying group is far from resting on its laurels.
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The Bordeaux Wine Board (CIVB) is re-launching two promotional campaigns aimed at promoting the 'versatility' of Bordeaux.
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he month of October is quickly becoming synonymous with Shop Rioja - Wines from Rioja's month-long promotion which brings the full diversity and dynamism of Spain's foremost wine region to the UK's independent retailers.
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The countdown is on to register for the Specialist Importers Trade Tasting (SITT) - launching for the first time as part of Harpers' own events umbrella next week.
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The Oxford Wine Company is poised to open a retail shop in the centre of Oxford as part of a new strategy to focus on its home area.
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According to some leading UK independent wine merchants, the cost of wine to their businesses has increased by anything from 10% to 16% since June's European referendum vote, depending on supplier.
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SITT, the Specialist Importers Trade Tasting, which aims to give a platform to independent merchants and specialist importers is returning to the UK next month - this year as part of Harpers' own event portfolio.
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Christmas appears to have arrived on time and with good cheer for many independent merchants, with an early survey of businesses suggesting that sales were generally comfortably up on last year's festive period.
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London's biggest wine tasting event is welcoming another old face when it returns in May.
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Spanish specialists Desoutter & James are debuting at Harpers' SITT event later this month.
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The independent sector continues to carve its own footprint, increasingly punching above its weight
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Australian producer Bird in Hand has appointed New World specialists Seckford Agencies to ramp up distribution of their brand across the UK.
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With referendum result and the ensuring market turmoil, on top escalating overheads and competition from online/supermarkets threatening the off-trade, it's of little surprise that there's not much festive cheer on the high street at the moment.
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