Liberty Wines sees sales jump 14% for first half of 2014

Liberty Wines has seen its overall revenues grow 14% in the six months to the end of June 2014, with on-trade sales putting in a particularly strong performance up 18%.

WSTA conference to focus on engaging consumers

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association's annual conference will focus on the role branding, innovation and digital communications play in engaging with consumers in today's wine and spirits world.

Jeremy Rockett leaves González Byass GB after 10 years

González Byass GB marketing director Jeremy Rockett has left the business after 10 years of service.

Broadland Wineries joins Les Grands Chais as UK distributors of Singlz PET wine glass

Broadland Wineries has signed a deal to produce single serve PET wine glass Singlz in the UK  which it will fill with its own wines from its Norfolk base.  

Hallgarten Druitt boosts sales and marketing teams

Hallgarten Druitt & Novum Wines has recruited a former Mirror journalist to head up its communications team and added an extra national accounts manager.

South Africa's Sodbuster wine targets UK farmers

A South African wine has decided to bypass the usual UK retail channels in favour of directly targeting farmers as its would-be consumers.

How a 'yes' vote from Scotland would affect alcohol taxes and logistics

Excise duty expert Alan Powell considers how Scottish independence could affect drinks firms operating both sides of the borders in terms of excise duty and logistics.

A 'yes' vote from Scotland could cripple drinks firms with duty headaches

If Scotland splits from the rest of the UK drinks firms could face potentially crippling changes to duty which would add a significant cost and administrative burden - even causing some to go out of business.

My Choice: Steven Gerrard,Barwell & Jones, on drinking with Bill Clinton and his LFC namesake

Steven Gerrard is the first to kick start our My Choice series where we ask leading figures in the trade for their favourite drinks, and where and when they would like to drink them. If you would like to join in and send yours then email your answers to the list below to richard.siddle@wrbm.com.

LVMH's wine and spirits business drags down overall performance of luxury group

Louis Vutton Moët Hennessy (LVMH) stock price is taking a hit as financial markets react to the conglomerate's half yearly results announced at close of business yesterday. This morning the stock was trading 6.12% lower, down from yesertday's close €141.25 per share to €132.75 (Bloomberg).

CBI reports strong and growing retail sales figures

Further signs the economy is recovering come today with the latest CBI retail figures that show volumes have grown solidly in the year to July and that retailers expect future sales to be even stronger through the summer.

Diageo's Captain Morgan advert once again banned by the ASA

Diageo, for the second time this year, has had a Captain Morgan advert banned by the Advetising Standards Authority (ASA) for a Facebook adve which stated that alcohol could combat boredom.

Memories of red thongs and "Semillons" inspire Andrew Shaw to join Team Cox

Andrew Shaw, head of buying at Bibendum Wine, is the latest wine industry stalwart to sign up to take part in the upcoming Médoc Marathon in Bordeaux to help raise money in memory of Michael Cox, the former UK head of Wines of Chile.

Matthew Clark launches 80-strong Boutique Beer range

Matthew Clark will today introduce a new range of 80 different beers to cater to on-trade's fastest growing category.

Tesco to replace chief executive, Philip Clarke, with outsider from Unilever

Spanish wines hit shelves at rock bottom prices to clear stock

Spanish wines will start hitting shelves at rock bottom prices of below £3.99 as exports drop by 3% in value despite increasing by 17% in volume.

I Heart Wines to move into travel retail

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

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

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!

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.