Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

I Heart Wines to move into travel retail

Published: 16 July, 2014

Copestick Murray's I Heart wine brand is entering the travel retail market with the appointment of specialist distribution partner Red Zero 7.

Setting the record straight: Pernod Ricard UK says fake wine reports are two years old

Published: 15 July, 2014

Pernod Ricard has issued a media statement refuting stories run by the Daily Mail, the Metro, The Independent, The Mirror and The Times in recent days that named Jacob's Creek as one of the wine brands that are on sale in some local off-licences that could be counterfeit and potentially harmful.

Your chance to enter and nominate brands for the Harpers Global Design Awards

Published: 14 July, 2014

If you have seen or worked with an exciting new drinks in the last 12 months then you can now nominate them to receive special recognition in the Harpers Global Design Awards.

Scotland win the World Cup...Harpers Predictions game!

Published: 14 July, 2014

James Macdonald of Burlington Drinks can hold his head up high today as the canniest, wisest football tipster in the UK wine and spirits industry as he came out top in the Harpers World Cup Predictathon.

Bibendum's launches 15-strong sake range for UK on-trade and independents

Published: 14 July, 2014

Last week marked the offical launch of Bibendum's new range of sakes to the on-trade and independent merchants in the UK.

World Cup drinks sales to top £1bn but dry up as tournament reaches its end

Published: 11 July, 2014

As we enter the final stage of the World Cup it seems the great British public is ready to put down its pint glass as well as turn off the football on television.

Australian premium wine not growing as fast as key competitors

Published: 11 July, 2014

Australian wine is not growing as fast at the premium end of the market as key competing countries like France, according to figures from Nielsen.

UK wine buyers to look more closely at alcohol levels, says Portman chief

Published: 11 July, 2014

UK wine buyers will start factoring alcohol content into their buying decisions on the back of a new Responsibility Deal pledge around lower alcohol house wines, says Portman Group chief Henry Ashworth.

Calling all drinks businesses: share your Responsibility Deal successes

Published: 10 July, 2014

Following this week's public backing of the drinks industry by the government for the work it has done to comply with the Responsibility Deal, Harpers is now giving drinks businesses the chance to share and publicise the efforts they have made.

Harpers Low-Alcohol Wine Report: Subscribers download here

Published: 09 July, 2014

Try as it might, the UK wine trade has yet to crack the low-alcohol wine category, according to a new Harpers report published today.

Over 55s increasingly happy with new smart technology to buy online

Published: 09 July, 2014

Drinks brands and retailers looking to target the key over 55 grey market should do so through smartphones, tablets and the internet as the older generation becomes increasingly comfortable with technology.

Retailers and suppliers yet to crack low-alcohol wine, says Harpers report

Published: 09 July, 2014

Try as it might, the UK wine trade has yet to crack the low-alcohol wine category, according to a new Harpers report published today.

Ted Sandbach, Oxford Wine Company: what I want from my suppliers

Published: 07 July, 2014

As an independent wine merchant one of the important and challenging jobs is how we deal and negotiate with suppliers. These can be large national companies or small boutique operations and we could be dealing with anything from the old fashioned "rep" to owners, directors or winemakers.

Independents put their foot down and demand more from major suppliers

Published: 04 July, 2014

Serious about working with leading independent wine merchants? Then this is a must read for you. Members of Harpers Independent Wine Crew set out what it is they like and don't like from the major wine distributors. Richard Siddle and Erin Smith report

Leading independents hit out at major wine suppliers for their "lazy" service

Published: 04 July, 2014

Leading independent wine merchants have stepped up to the plate today to strongly criticise the quality of service that they are receiving from many of the major UK national wine suppliers and distributors.

Harpers Design Awards relaunches as global competition

Published: 04 July, 2014

The Harpers Design Awards are being relaunched for 2014 as a global competition, inviting entries for wines, spirits, beers, ciders and soft drinks from anywhere in the world - providing they are already on sale in the market.

France Summit to focus on how the country is adapting to UK consumer needs

Published: 04 July, 2014

Harpers will once again be turning the spotlight well and truly on the ins and outs, ups and downs of the French wine category as the French Summit returns for its second year on October 21 at London's St Ermin's Hotel.

World Cup memories from Nik Darlington, Robin Copestick and Rachel Davey

Published: 04 July, 2014

England may have nothing but disappointment to bring home from Brazil, but here we turn to some friends in the trade to remind us of past glories and happy memories from World Cups gone by. If you would like to share your World Cup memories then send to richard.siddle@wrbm.com.

Wine Vision to focus on how industry must adapt to millennials' needs

Published: 03 July, 2014

Wine Vision's return to London in November will examine key issues affecting growth in the industry as relationships between wine brands and consumers change and competition from spirits and beer intensifies.

Beer drives Constellation Brands to increase financial expectations for 2015

Published: 03 July, 2014

Constellation Brands first quarter results for fiscal year 2015 beat expectations primarily due to its Crown Import beer distribution acquisitions last year and based on the results increased its fiscal year outlook.