Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

50 Best Indies 2025 ranking: 50-41 revealed

Published: 06 January, 2025

This week marks the launch of our 50 Best Indies 2025 results, celebrating the leading wine and spirits merchants from across the UK.

Looking Back, Forging Ahead Q&A: Mark Wrigglesworth, The Good Wine Shop

Published: 03 January, 2025

Next up in our end of year trade talking heads is Mark Wrigglesworth, director at The Good Wine Shop, as he reflects on remaining competitive in a challenging environment.

Looking Back, Forging Ahead Q&A: Andrew Lundy, Vino Wines

Published: 19 December, 2024

Next up in our end of year trade talking heads is Andrew Lundy, director and owner of Edinburgh-based Vino Wines, as he reflects on remaining competitive in a challenging environment.

Hospitality industry witnesses significant growth in Gen Z business directors

Published: 25 November, 2024

New data released by Companies House has revealed that the hospitality sector has the third-largest proportion of Gen Z business directors, with 1,630 registered entities now steered by the under 30 cohort.

Harpers 30 Under 30 finalist invests in bricks and mortar

Published: 22 November, 2024

Entrepreneur, cheese enthusiast and media personality Jessica Summer has opened her first shop and bar in the London Borough of Harrow.

Dramatic wage inflation heightens post-Budget blues

Published: 13 November, 2024

New data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that average weekly earnings in the food and accommodation sector continue to spiral, exacerbating the financial woes of hospitality businesses nationwide.

Budget review: A ‘horrific’ state of affairs for the trade

Published: 31 October, 2024

An outcry has erupted from the trade following yesterday’s Autumn Budget, which led to disappointment on many fronts, including a measly 1p off draught beer, further rises to duty for wine and a lowered rate of business rates relief which has been described a kick in the teeth to businesses.

Waitrose appoints new wine trading manager

Published: 07 October, 2024

Nicola Jones will join Waitrose as its new wine trading manager on 13 October, bringing 13 years of experience from within the company.

Virgin Wines and Ocado announce exclusive partnership

Published: 07 October, 2024

Virgin Wines has agreed a strategic partnership with Ocado.com, which will give the online-only supermarket’s customers access to an exclusive selection of 50 wines from Virgin’s portfolio.

Indie retailers face down living wage increases

Published: 28 August, 2024

The National President of the Fed (Federation of Independent Retailers) has written to the new Secretary of State for Business and Trade to highlight the impact of higher wages on smaller businesses.

Yapp hops county for new home

Published: 31 May, 2024

Yapp Brothers is to leave it’s Wiltshire HQ this month for new premises in Somerset, marking a milestone in the company’s 55-year history,

Inside Berry Bros. & Rudd's new Spirits Shop

Published: 28 March, 2024

After over one hundred years of being a wine-front merchant, a spirits fascia bearing the name Berry Bros. & Rudd (BBR) is days away from opening to the public on the hallowed pavements of St James’.

50 Best Indies 2024: The full rundown

Published: 15 January, 2024

Meet our 50 Best Indies 2024, celebrating the most dynamic and quality focused merchants in this ever-vibrant sector

Majestic expands on-trade ambitions with Craggy Range partnership

Published: 01 November, 2023

Majestic’s B2B division, Majestic Commercial, is continuing to build momentum in the UK on-trade by welcoming Craggy Range back to the company’s arsenal after a seven-year absence, by becoming its exclusive on-trade agent.

Insolvencies peak driven by hospitality and retail

Published: 01 November, 2023

Newly released figures from the Insolvency Service show that a higher rate of UK insolvencies over the 12 months have been driven by pressures in consumer facing industries such as leisure, hospitality and retail. However, research suggests the worst might now be in the rear-view mirror, with an easing now expected to follow as the industry works through some of its core challenges.

Naked Wines UK appoints new MD

Published: 30 October, 2023

Online wine retailer, Naked Wines, has appointed Rodrigo Maza as MD of the UK business (pictured), as it continues to grapple with the ongoing challenge of new customer acquisition post-Covid.

The Drop: Bringing it home

Published: 20 June, 2023

Bottle shop, wine bar or app? The Drop’s marketing director Helen Fletcher explains to Andrew Catchpole how it is all three and how this popular hybrid is set to grow.

Jeroboams ‘neighbourhood’ family of stores to hit 10 with Chelsea opening

Published: 22 May, 2023

Jeroboams, which bills itself as ‘London’s local wine merchant’, is to hit the milestone of 10 stores this June as part of what the company describes as its “ambitious growth plans”.

Cashflow support fails to soothe Scottish DRS concerns

Published: 22 February, 2023

Circularity Scotland has announced that £22 million of cashflow support will be made available to Scottish producers preparing for the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).

50 Best Indies 2023 ranking: 20-12 revealed

Published: 09 January, 2023

This week marks the launch of our 50 Best Indies 2023, where we are celebrating the best businesses working in the UK’s thriving drinks merchant scene.