Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

50 Best Indies 2024: The full rundown

Published: 15 January, 2024

Meet our 50 Best Indies 2024, celebrating the most dynamic and quality focused merchants in this ever-vibrant sector

50 Best Indies 2024 ranking: Top 10 revealed

Published: 12 January, 2024

Today we conclude the rollout of our 50 Best Indies 2024 results with a recording of the live unveiling of our Top 10 indie merchants, who joined us at Wild by Tart in London, unveiling the best in the business in the UK.

50 Best Indies 2024 ranking: 20-11 revealed

Published: 11 January, 2024

This week we continue the rollout of our 50 Best Indies 2024 results, celebrating the top merchants from across this dynamic and ever-engaging sector

50 Best Indies 2024 ranking: 30-21 revealed

Published: 10 January, 2024

This week we continue the rollout of our 50 Best Indies 2024 results, celebrating the top merchants from across this dynamic and ever-engaging sector.

Embracing change in Rioja

Published: 20 December, 2023

Setting out to discover the renewed dynamism and diversity in Spain’s flagship DO, Harpers teamed up with Wines of Rioja to host an indie merchant buying trip to the region. Andrew Catchpole reports.

Indies short-changed in government duty consultation

Published: 14 August, 2023

Independent merchants, long considered the backbone of the quality drinks trade in the UK, were woefully underrepresented among those consulted by government over the duty changes now hitting businesses.

50 Best Indies 2023: Tune in for the results

Published: 06 January, 2023

Once again the results of our popular 50 Best Indies list are ready to be announced, with tranches of 10 being revealed each day next week (9-13 January) at 11am.

Bristol indie bucks belt tightening trend

Published: 17 October, 2022

Despite the cost-of-living crisis affecting consumer up and down the country, at least one independent has reported booming sales of its fine wines.

Taking stock

Published: 28 September, 2022

With the cost of living crisis set to get worse, how can indies best protect their businesses? Andrew Catchpole listens to some differing views.

Ukrainian wines seek independents

Published: 06 June, 2022

Against many odds, a first shipment of 8,232 bottles has left Ukraine as part of a new initiative by Propeller designed to support its producers by bringing its wines to the UK.

Nominations now open for 50 Best Indies 2022

Published: 31 May, 2022

To begin the process of shaping our annual Harpers 50 Best Indies Awards 2022, we are once again inviting the UK trade to nominate the UK Independent retailers that you believe are at the top of their game.

Indies: Fighting back against the obstacles to trade

Published: 05 May, 2022

Jason Millar looks at how the long tail of Brexit and Covid have impacted merchants looking to buy direct.

Upbeat mood at Vindependents tasting

Published: 18 January, 2022

Signs that life is returning to something closer to normal, at least for the UK’s independent merchants, were borne out in London yesterday (17 January) at a well-attended Vindependents tasting in Camden.

Indies: Fighting fit?

Published: 17 January, 2022

Adaptability has been key for indies that have sought not just to survive, but to thrive, as Angela Mount reports.

Yuletide cheer

Published: 22 December, 2021

With supply and delivery issues forcing indies to be nimble and imaginative for the Christmas rush, Andrew Catchpole asked a trio of merchants how they prepared for the festive sales spike in such an unpredictable year.

Indies: Sustainable steps

Published: 10 December, 2021

With sustainability roaring back to the top of the agenda, Harpers surveyed the indie sector to discover what demonstrable initiatives, innovations and actions leading merchants have implemented on their green journey.

UK’s 50 Best Indies 2021: The Top 10

Published: 09 September, 2021

Welcome to the final release instalment of our UK’s 50 Best Indies 2021, featuring the chart-topping Top 10, along with all of those that have made it into the ranking this year.

50 Best Indies reveal begins

Published: 06 September, 2021

The big reveal of Harpers UK’s 50 Best Indies 2021 has begun, with the first tranche – 50 to 41 – available to stream on our website from 11am today (Monday 6 September).

Harpers 50 Best Indies 2021 – nominations invited

Published: 23 April, 2021

We are once again launching our annual 50 Best Indies Awards, to acknowledge the best in the business of indie drinks retailing.

Discover why Canada is the new cool kid in town

Published: 25 February, 2021

With cooler climate wines and off-piste finds high on the agenda of many quality-focused buyers, Harpers is teaming up with the High Commission of Canada in the United Kingdom to host a webinar exploring the exciting potential of Canadian wines in the UK market.