News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Majestic Wine appoints former Tesco BWS director Robert Cooke

Published: 13 June, 2019

Majestic has appointed former Tesco BWS director Robert Cooke as its buying & merchandising director, Harpers can reveal.

China’s fast evolving taste for wine

Published: 13 June, 2019

Younger Chinese consumers are radically reshaping China’s wine market as trends paralleling those in the West gain ground, but with greater speed.

Majestic in ‘advanced’ talks over sale of stores

Published: 13 June, 2019

Majestic Wine said this morning it is in advanced talks over a potential sale of its retail and commercial outlets.

Harpers and California Wines to host ‘transatlantic conversation’ on sustainability

Published: 12 June, 2019

Harpers is partnering with California Wine Institute to run a sustainability-focused event at London’s Design Museum on 11 July, bringing together West Coast and UK views and insights into one of the most prominent topics of the day.

Rioja rule rewrite aims at greater traceability and transparency

Published: 12 June, 2019

Rioja’s wine board has adopted a sea of far-reaching measures including rules on new legally binding bottle label references aimed at providing greater transparency and guarantees for consumers over wine production.

Cambridge noses ahead to vinous victory in Varsity taste off

Published: 12 June, 2019

Cambridge narrowly triumphed over Oxford last night in a hard fought blind tasting challenge between these rival indie merchants.

Whisky eyes £2.44bn by 2022

Published: 12 June, 2019

Whisky will be worth £2.44bn by 2022, up from £2.31bn last year, according to the first Edrington-Beam Suntory UK Whisky Yearbook.

Imports down in China but drinkers trade up

Published: 11 June, 2019

The volume of wine imported by China has fallen for the first time since 2014, according to the latest Wine Intelligence report.

Goedhuis & Co appoints senior fine wine & spirits buyer

Published: 11 June, 2019

Goedhuis & Co has appointed Kate Janecek to the newly created role of senior fine wine and spirits buyer as it ramps up its spirits offering.

Gin in the pink

Published: 11 June, 2019

The popularity of pink gin is driving total on-trade gin sales, according to new CGA research.

Zero growth for pubs and restaurants in May

Published: 11 June, 2019

UK pubs and restaurants saw trading fall flat in May, according to the latest Coffer Peach Business Tracker. Collective like-for-like sales growth across the market was zero compared to last year.

Conegliano Valdobbiadene bans glyphosate in its vineyards

Published: 11 June, 2019

The Consorzio of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG has forbidden the use of glyphosate in its vineyards.

BRC records worst footfall figures in six years

Published: 10 June, 2019

Shops across Britain suffered their steepest fall in customer visits in six years in the past month, with footfall plummeting as declines were recorded in every region, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

Majestic’s profits predicted to fall by 36%

Published: 10 June, 2019

Majestic Wines’ pre-tax profits are expected to drop by 36% year-on-year to £11m.

Belsazar Vermouth launches Summer Spritz campaign

Published: 10 June, 2019

Belsazar Vermouth has launched a new range of "summer serves" to take advantage of consumer demand for lower abv drinks and spritzers when the sun comes out.

I Heart Wines launches first TV campaign

Published: 10 June, 2019

I Heart Wines will launch its first TV ad campaign today (10 June) as part of “biggest investment” behind the brand to date.

Johnnie Walker master blender awarded OBE

Published: 10 June, 2019

Dr Jim Beveridge, Johnnie Walker’s master blender, has been awarded an OBE for his outstanding service to the Scotch whisky industry.

On-trade is moving with the times, say suppliers, as Jamie’s and other well-known faces disappear from the high street

Published: 07 June, 2019

The tired, middle of the road, mid-market section of the on-trade is falling away to make way for new, more innovative concepts, suppliers have told Harpers.

Plumpton reveals Dr Greg Dunn to take over when Chris Foss retires

Published: 07 June, 2019

Plumpton College has announced that Dr Greg Dunn, currently programme manager for its MSc in Viticulture & Oenologye, will take over as curriculum manager for the wine division when Chris Foss retires later this month.