Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

31 Dover rebrands as SPIRIT.ED

Published: 07 December, 2021

Premium drinks company 31 Dover has changed its trading name to SPIRIT.ED.

Wine Australia looks to expand its reach through high-profile partnership

Published: 06 December, 2021

Wine Australia has recently announced a partnership between its own Australian Wine Connect platform and industry events organiser Vinexpo’s digital platform Vinexposium.

Profile: Fortune Fleming

Published: 19 November, 2021

A bullish Brett Fleming explains to Andrew Catchpole why Armit Wines is back with a bang, firmly focused on the high ground.

Hospitality is in ‘peril’ and ‘fighting’ for survival

Published: 12 November, 2021

The hospitality sector is “an industry in peril” that is fighting for its life, the latest edition of the UKHospitality (UKH) and CGA Quarterly Tracker has said.

The Wine Society pledges to hit net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040

Published: 08 November, 2021

The Wine Society is undertaking an ambitious project to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across its business and supply chain by 2040 as part of its mission to be the most ethical and responsible wine retailer in the world.

Increased supplier costs for SMEs as price of raw materials rack up

Published: 02 November, 2021

Supply chain issues and increasing costs have impacted small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the country with four out of five (79%) revealing they have faced increased prices from suppliers over the past six months.

UK food & drink businesses ‘behind’ on climate change targets, says WRAP research

Published: 01 November, 2021

Just under two-thirds (63%) of UK consumers want businesses to take immediate action to tackle climate change, a new national survey commissioned by sustainability charity WRAP has showed.

Jerry Lockspeiser: Can we trade our way out of this mess?

Published: 28 October, 2021

Sitting in reception at one of the UK’s biggest supermarkets waiting for the wine buyer to appear for our appointment, I flicked through my newspaper. When he arrived, I hurriedly stuffed the paper into my briefcase, but not before the buyer had caught sight of it. “Ah, you are one of those are you?” he said, having identified my copy of The Guardian.

Business rates for hospitality cut by 50% for one year

Published: 27 October, 2021

Today’s Budget announcement included a year-long cut to business rates for the leisure and retail industry, meaning pubs, restaurants and bars will pay 50% less for 12 months.

Building a wine subscription model

Published: 25 October, 2021

The traditional wine club has gone online and re-emerged as a strong subscription proposition for businesses of all shapes and sizes, as Jo Gilbert reports from Harpers’ SITT panel discussion.

Long read: Top tips for a roaring recovery

Published: 21 October, 2021

All businesses were hit hard by the pandemic, though arguably none more so than the hospitality industry. Having worked with hundreds of bars, cafes, wineries, breweries, distilleries and cideries across the world, Erik Wolf, executive director of the World Food Travel Association, takes us through his top tips on how beverage business managers and owners can super-charge their post-pandemic recovery.

Liberty Wines goes ‘carbon neutral plus’

Published: 18 October, 2021

Liberty Wines has revealed that it has become the only ‘carbon neutral plus’ UK wine supplier – offsetting more emissions than the business generates.

Managed hospitality venues see September sales bounce

Published: 18 October, 2021

Managed restaurant, pub and bar groups achieved a ‘significant bounce’ in sales in September, the latest edition of the Coffer CGA Business Tracker has revealed.

Soho Street Cocktails signs exclusive distribution deal with Vindependents

Published: 13 October, 2021

Soho Street Cocktails, the ready-to-drink premium cocktail brand, has signed an exclusive distribution deal with Vindependents, the independent merchant buying group.

Revolution sees strong trading from pent up demand

Published: 07 October, 2021

Pent up demand has seen Revolution Bars, the 67-strong bar group, report strong trading well ahead of expectations.

Alliance Wine strengthens team with new appointments

Published: 06 October, 2021

Alliance Wine has revealed it has strengthened its business with two new appointments.

Hospitality leaders fight to recruit and retain staff as labour shortages bite

Published: 04 October, 2021

One in six (16%) hospitality jobs currently lie vacant, triggering intense competition among firms to recruit and retain team members, the latest Business Confidence Survey from CGA and Fourth has said.

Price spikes predicted as 3/4 of hospitality prepare to pass on costs

Published: 23 September, 2021

Costs resulting from ongoing supply chain issues are likely to be passed onto the customer this autumn, CGA has predicted, with three-quarters of hospitality businesses admitting that they are likely to raise prices as a result.

Pernod Ricard to acquire The Whisky Exchange

Published: 21 September, 2021

French international Pernod Ricard has finalised an agreement to purchase a leading UK retailer of wines and spirits.

Business failures and job losses loom with Welsh Covid passports

Published: 20 September, 2021

The introduction of Covid-19 passports for venues in Wales will be an extra burden that could bring business failures before the end of the year, industry bodies have warned.