Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

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.

Food prices in hospitality surge again as supermarket prices ease

Published: 31 July, 2023

Inflation in hospitality rose again in June to 22.6% YOY, just shy of the record high of 22.9% in December 2022, as measured by CGA.

Paper bottles break supermarket barrier with Sainsbury’s listing

Published: 05 January, 2023

When in Rome (WiR), one of the UK’s leading alt-format wine brands is set to launch its range of recycled paper wine bottles into Sainsbury’s during the first quarter 2023.

Multiples: New world, same aisle

Published: 20 April, 2022

Supermarket wine ranges are continuing to evolve in 2022, as James Bayley discovers.

Multiples: New world, same aisle

Published: 20 April, 2022

Supermarket wine ranges are continuing to evolve in 2022, as James Bayley discovers.

Aldi launches vegan favourites pack to cater for plant-based shoppers

Published: 07 March, 2022

After seeing sales of plant-based products soar 500% during Veganuary, Aldi has launched a new Vegan Favourites wine pack. The online-only bundle includes six of Aldi’s most popular premium vegan wines. The selection includes a mixture of reds, whites and rosés, all free from animal products, for just £59.44 – less than £10 per bottle.

Aldi launches nationwide competition for new suppliers

Published: 16 February, 2022

Aldi is continuing its commitment to British suppliers with the announcement of ‘Grow With Aldi’, a nationwide competition that will see the supermarket uncover and ultimately stock exciting new products from the UK’s best small and medium food and drink businesses – propelling them into the big time.

Ronan Sayburn and Aldi team-up to assuage fears of “choosing the wrong wine” at Christmas

Published: 03 December, 2021

Choosing the right wine at a dinner party is proving to be a worry for those hosting, new research from supermarket Aldi has found; which is why the supermarket has teamed up with leading sommelier Ronan Sayburn to create a dinner party pack curated from a list of its most premium winter wines.

Co-op becomes first supermarket to sell Chateau La Negly

Published: 07 July, 2021

Languedoc producer Chateau La Negly has made its wine available to buy for the first time at a UK supermarket with a launch into Co-op.

Waitrose unveils mixed English wine case

Published: 26 May, 2021

Waitrose has launched a new mixed wine case comprising a selection of homegrown wines.

ASDA groups wine by grape rather than region

Published: 26 April, 2021

Asda has unveiled a major change in the setup of its wine aisles by becoming the first major UK supermarket to group all wine by grape instead of by country.

Garçon appoints Angela Mount as supermarket advisor

Published: 31 March, 2021

Garçon Wines has appointed ex-Somerfield wine buyer Angela Mount to the role of supermarket advisor as part of plans to accelerate its potential in the UK.

19 Crimes named UK's favourite supermarket wine

Published: 23 November, 2020

The most popular supermarket wine in the UK is 19 Crimes Red, according to a survey of 4,500 wine lovers.

WinesDirect Awards 2020

Published: 16 September, 2020

Harpers teamed up with WinesDirect for its third annual WinesDirect Awards. Voted for purely by consumers, the awards celebrate supermarkets, wine merchants  and brands in the beers, wines and spirits industry.

Friday Read: Multiple price pressures

Published: 03 July, 2020

The following nicely captures the predominant supplier view of UK supermarkets.

Mike Coupe to retire as Sainsbury’s CEO

Published: 22 January, 2020

Sainsbury's has announced its CEO Mike Coupe will retire from the supermarket group in May this year.

The UK’s favourite wine supermarket

Published: 05 August, 2019

Working together with Wines Direct, Harpers brings you the results of a huge survey into Britain’s wine-buying habits. Lisa Riley reports

Tesco boss hails turnaround

Published: 10 April, 2019

Tesco is celebrating the biggest leap in profits since it was shaken by an accounting scandal five years ago, having seen annual pre-tax profits jump 28.8% to £1.67 billion.

Q&A: Xenia Irwin MW, Waitrose Cellar

Published: 07 March, 2019

Xenia Irwin MW, wine buyer at Waitrose Cellar is in revelatory mood as she shares her passion for her job – and some childhood memories.

Q&A: Robert Cooke, beers, wines & spirits director, Tesco

Published: 15 November, 2018

Buoyed by October’s encouraging interim results, Tesco is heading into the festive season with a hand in the on-trade for the first time, thanks to its merger with cash-and-carry group Booker. Jo Gilbert speaks to BWS director Robert Cooke about what the deal means for alcoholic drinks sales at the UK’s biggest grocer