Austria claims new sparkling wine standards rival Champagne

Austria has introduced new quality standards for its sparkling wines, which it claims puts it on a par with Champagne and Franciacorta.

Waitrose extends Wincanton's wine storage and distribution contract

Wincanton has secured a contract extension with Waitrose for its wine and spirits storage and distribution - taking the partnership to over 20 years.

Waitrose predicts healthy future for South American and lighter style wines and spirits

South American wines and more left field grape varieties like an Austrian Grüner Veltliner or a Spanish Albarino are going to become far more trendy in the months ahead, according to the new Waitrose Food and Drink Report 2014.

Tesco's woes continue with further drop in sales as Waitrose hits record market share

Tesco continues to lose market share to its grocery rivals at both ends of the retail spectrum, according to the latest figures from Kantar Worldpanel which reveals that Waitrose achieved its record performance for the last 12 weeks of trading.

Waitrose to make beers, wines and spirits 'destination' departments

Waitrose is making its drinks department more of a destination by upping the ante on its in-store dining plans - with plans to ramp up grazing options by adding steak bars and by serving fresh beer.

Morrisons' and Waitrose's profits slide as Ocado sales jump

Morrisons and Waitrose are the most recent losers of the fierce supermarket price wars that have erupted across the UK in the last year. WM Morrison reported just over a 30% decline in half-yearly profits on Thursday, while Waitrose which had remained relatively unscathed by the competition, reported a 9.4% drop in profits for its half yearly results.

Bloom gin launches upmarket rose lemonade RTD

Bloom gin is expanding its range of upmarket ready-to-serve drinks with its gin and rose lemonade - presented in an old-fashioned glass bottle.

Aldi on verge of overtaking Waitrose as sales jump a further 32%

IWC 2014: Supermarket own brand wines take 8 of 13 Great Value Trophies

Supermarket own brand wines have taken home eight out of 13 trophies for great value wines at the International Wine Challenge 2014.

Waitrose to grow online wine share with new website

Waitrose plans to grow its online wine share with the launch of a specialist site Waitrose Cellar.

Supermarket moves to sell wines by glass not a "slam dunk"

Moving more into hospitality with wine by the glass sales and casual dining is not a "slam dunk" route to success for the supermarkets.

Christmas boost for 2013 sales across on and off-trades

Despite the weather, most operators in the on- and off-trade had a great December. Gemma McKenna reports

Rolling update: Major retailers report mixed Xmas results, but wines still perform well

Why creating "magic" in-store is key to our success says Waitrose chief

Doing the opposite of what everyone else is doing and creating magic when customers enter stores are key tactics being used to drive sales across Waitrose, according to managing director Mark Price.

Waitrose aims to be contrary, Price tells 2013 IGD Convention

UK's best Spanish wine players celebrated in Harpers' Spanish Wine Awards

Waitrose, The Wine Society, Cambridge Wine Merchants, Camino Group and Matthew Clark were some of the stand out winners in Harpers inaugural Spanish Wine Awards to celebrate the best operators in the Spanish wine category in the UK.

Glasgow launches pilot scheme to encourage drinkers to switch to lower alcohol brands

Scottish drinkers are being urged to swap their usual drink for a lower alcohol version as part of a pilot campaign launched this week by the Scottish Government Alcohol Industry Partnership (SGAIP).

July heatwave is more successful for supermarkets than Olympics

The heatwave throughout most of July proved to nearly twice as successful for the UK's major grocery multiples than last year's London 2012 Olympic Games, according to the latest sales figures released by Nielsen.

Waitrose, Aldi and Lidl take market share from Big Four

The Big Four supermarkets are under increasing pressure from both the hard discounters, Aldi and Lidl, and from mainstream rival Waitrose.

Discounters and Waitrose lead the UK retail market

Discounters and Waitrose are continuing to enjoy the best of retail sales, according to the latest trading figures published by Nielsen.