News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Berry Bros adds British rum Scratch to portfolio

Published: 12 April, 2021

Berry Bros & Rudd has added Patience aged rum from Hertfordshire distillery Scratch to its portfolio, marking the merchant’s first British rum listing.

Reopening guide issued to help businesses push back on incorrect enforcement

Published: 12 April, 2021

Hospitality trade bodies have published a one-page guide stating the key rules operators must follow to reopen safely and in accordance with government guidelines.

CGA: ‘Venues must walk fine line between safety and experience’

Published: 12 April, 2021

Most consumers will remain sharply focused on safety despite a growing boldness about going out as lockdown restrictions ease, according to CGA’s latest Consumer Countdown to Reopening research.

Armit adds Argentina's Mendel Wines

Published: 08 April, 2021

Armit Wines has has signed a deal as the exclusive UK distributor for Argentina’s family-owned winery Mendel Wines.

Diageo collaborates on sustainable glass bottle trial

Published: 08 April, 2021

Diageo has collaborated in a pilot project to pioneer the lowest carbon footprint glass bottles ever produced for a Scotch whisky brand.

Portman research predicts “cautious return” to pubs post lockdown

Published: 08 April, 2021

Pubgoers look set to tailor some of their pre-pandemic drinking behaviours once restrictions ease, the Portman Group has said, with many planning to drink less when they return to the on-trade post-lockdown.

Bollinger acquires Ponzi Vineyards

Published: 08 April, 2021

The Bollinger family, owners of Champagne Bollinger and four other French estates, has announced it is acquiring Oregon’s Ponzi Vineyards.

Atkin: 'Best line-up of Chilean wines I’ve ever tasted'

Published: 08 April, 2021

Tim Atkin MW, Harpers columnist and leading UK wine writer, has launched his 2021 Chile report.

Consumers keen to spend despite financial worries

Published: 08 April, 2021

Consumers are set to prioritise eating and drinking out in their spending after lockdown, but remain cautious about longer term financial impacts of the pandemic, according to CGA’s latest Consumer Countdown to Reopening research.

Ruinart dedicates historic vineyard to biodiversity project

Published: 07 April, 2021

LVMH brand Champagne Ruinart is furthering its commitment to nurturing biodiversity in the Champagne region by switching over its 40ha historic Taissy vineyard to a biodiversity pilot project in tandem with Reforest’Action.

New M&S Found range champions rare and unusual wines

Published: 07 April, 2021

UK premium retailers M&S has launched a Found range, bringing affordable ‘hidden treasures’ from the wine world to its customers.

Covid passports hang over trade

Published: 07 April, 2021

Covid passports could still be introduced at a later date for hospitality venues, a new government report has revealed, despite the Prime Minister ruling out their introduction for outdoor reopening over the next six weeks.

Trade Hospitality app adds new membership tiers ahead of re-opening

Published: 07 April, 2021

The Trade Hospitality app has launched two new membership tiers ahead of the 12 April partial on-trade re-opening, with access to private member clubs and a corporate deal now featured.

Expanded indie-focused campaign follows rise in Georgia imports

Published: 07 April, 2021

Georgia’s national promotional body has teased a number of new initiatives in the UK market after 2020 showed a marked increase in the number of importers, wholesalers and retailers working with Georgian wines.

Changing market forces push ‘more modern’ whisky breed to the front

Published: 06 April, 2021

Changing market forces are pushing a new, more modern breed of whisky to the forefront, with the evolving category landscape encouraging producers to innovate, according to new IWSR research.

Jascots to step up presence outside London

Published: 06 April, 2021

Jascots Wine has, together with its new owners Freixenet Copestick, revealed plans to expands its footprint outside its London heartland.

Calabria Family Wines acquires McWilliam’s Wines

Published: 06 April, 2021

Riverina and Barossa Valley winemaker Calabria Family Wines has acquired McWilliam’s Wines, for an undisclosed sum.

LWC opens doors to new £12.5m distribution site

Published: 06 April, 2021

LWC Drinks has opened the doors to a new £12.5m state-of-the-art 173,000 square foot bonded distribution centre ahead of the re-opening of the hospitality industry on 12 April.

Denis O’Flynn joins Kingsland Drinks

Published: 06 April, 2021

Kingsland Drinks Group has appointed Denis O’Flynn, previously MD at Pernod Ricard UK and chairman of the WSTA, as a non-executive director of its board.