Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Pernod deal for Allied completed

Published: 23 July, 2008

Three months after the Allied Domecq's board decided to recommend Pernod Ricard's bid for the company, the UK's second-largest drinks company now belongs to its French rival.

Sales of single malts soar

Published: 23 July, 2008

The amount of malt whisky drunk in the UK in 2004 is 10% up on 2003 levels - and the consumer is trading up, too.

South African auction wines come to the UK

Published: 23 July, 2008

Leading South African winemakers Gary Jordan (Jordan Winery) and Niels Verburg (Luddite) will be visiting London in September to present the wines on offer at this year's Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction.

Ardche launches UK PR campaign

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Ardche Mridionale region of the southern Rhne is launching a UK PR campaign to raise awareness of the little-known region.

Marketing Australia

Published: 23 July, 2008

The theme of the 2005 Australian Wine Marketing Conference, held last week in Adelaide, was navigating your route to market'.

ASA: Use old, fat, bald men in ads

Published: 23 July, 2008

More bald and overweight' men should be used in alcohol ads, according to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

Boyar looks to Ehrmanns

Published: 23 July, 2008

Bulgarian wine producer Boyar Estates is closing its UK office and moving its UK marketing and distribution to Ehrmanns.

Two MWs out; two MWs in at Waitrose

Published: 23 July, 2008

Waitrose has replaced two departing MWs - buyer Simon Thorpe MW and wine information manager Julia Harding MW - with two more graduates of the Institute of Masters of Wine.

The Napa Declaration

Published: 23 July, 2008

Representatives from seven leading wine-producing regions met in the Napa Valley last week to sign the Napa Declaration' - an agreement that the great wine regions will speak with one voice' to protect geographical place names.

Nichols named head buyer at Oddbins

Published: 23 July, 2008

Emma Nichols has replaced Lynne Coyle as head of buying at Oddbins.

Bulgaria Supplement 2005

Published: 23 July, 2008

In the past decade, the rise of New World wines has had a serious impact on Bulgaria's wine sales, but with its newfound position as a tourist hotspot and EU accession just around the corner, it's predicted that Bulgaria will bounce back.
This is Harpers first ever Bulgaria supplement.

New distribution deal for Stellenbosch Saxenburg

Published: 23 July, 2008

Premium Stellenbosch estate Saxenburg has moved distribution from Moreno Wines to start-up Colours of Africa.

Early indications point to good' Italian vintage

Published: 23 July, 2008

The state of Italian vineyards is giving rise to hopes for a good harvest in the autumn.

Analyst predicts big job losses at Foster's

Published: 23 July, 2008

Foster's Group (FGL) will be forced to make 400 redundancies in its US and UK sales forces in order to meet optimistic synergy targets following its takeover of Southcorp, according to a new report from broker Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB).

Two new Laithwaites buyers

Published: 23 July, 2008

Mail-order giant Laithwaites has appointed two new buyers.

California Supplement 2005

Published: 23 July, 2008

California shows a remarkable thirst for growth in the UK wine market, and with its winemakers' can-do' attitude, the future will hopefully see more diversity, and a new attitude on behalf of the trade and consumer to what this gargantuan state is capable of.

Diageo gives more info

Published: 23 July, 2008

Diageo has announced plans to provide nutritional information and a responsible drinking message across its range of wines, spirits and beers in 180 markets around the world.

Industry big guns sign up for consumer show

Published: 23 July, 2008

Some of the UK's biggest wine companies have signed up for this autumn's consumer wine show, The Wine Show London.

Hayman for Hong Kong

Published: 23 July, 2008

Miranda Hayman, senior brand manager at Hayman Barwell Jones (HBJ) London, has relocated to Hong Kong.

Race on for Taittinger Champagne following sale of parent group

Published: 23 July, 2008

Another bidding war among drinks industry giants is on the cards after the successful bidder for the Taittinger group signalled it was willing to put the Champagne house straight on the market.