Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Online BWS sales double during May

Published: 05 June, 2020

Online sales of beers, wines and spirits boomed during May, as the UK’s second month under lockdown drove a record numbers of thirsty consumers to embrace ecommerce.

Drinks Trust wellness services now live

Published: 01 June, 2020

The new range of mental health support services for members of the trade from the Drinks Trust have now been launched.

Friday Read: What’s going to drive us to drink after the pandemic?

Published: 29 May, 2020

Rowena Curlewis, CEO of drinks design specialist Denomination, looks at the impact that the lockdown will have on our future drinks choices

How low can we all go?

Published: 29 May, 2020

As lockdown continues and consumers settle into new ways of life, will the nolo category get more of a look in? Lisa Riley reports

Champagne Academy launches emergency financial fund for The Drinks Trust

Published: 28 May, 2020

The Champagne Academy has announced the launch of a range of fundraising initiatives to help support The Drinks Trust and its beneficiaries through these turbulent times.

Alcohol to not rebound globally until 2024

Published: 26 May, 2020

It will take five years for the global alcohol category to get back to pre-Covid health, the IWSR has predicted, with double digit declines expected to the hit the category this year.

On-trade operators should plan ‘relaunch', not ‘reopening’, ahead of 4 July

Published: 21 May, 2020

On-trade operators should “step away from emotion”, challenging themselves to think back to when they started their businesses and consider it a relaunch, not a reopening, when they once again open their doors.

US on-trade reopening gives near-future glimpse of path ahead for UK

Published: 21 May, 2020

Reduced food and drink ranges, continued off-trade sales, ongoing food take-out, plus the need for support from suppliers to ‘optimise drinks assortments’ are among the main takeaways from a recent Nielsen CGA survey of the US restaurant and bar sectors.

The Drinks Trust wellness services

Published: 21 May, 2020

The Drinks Trust has launched a number of new services focusing on improving the mental health of the industry and supporting them through what has been a troubling time for many.

Change of pace: How Covid/climate pressures are accelerating innovation of packaging and design

Published: 20 May, 2020

With drinks fast evolving to meet consumer trends, design and packaging has an ever more important role in communicating change, writes Andrew Catchpole

Government urged to end rent stalemate to save hospitality sector

Published: 18 May, 2020

UK Hospitality has again called on the UK government to intervene in the ongoing rent stalemate to prevent “widespread job losses and business failures” across the sector.

Napa Valley Vintners and The Drinks Trust lend support to fight Covid-19

Published: 15 May, 2020

A group of Napa Valley winemakers is offering its support to the Covid-19-hit UK hospitality industry via a new online course.

Still wine wins out as UK drinking occasions rise to new heights

Published: 14 May, 2020

The UK’s 28 million wine consumers have found new and more occasions to enjoy their favourite drink, according to new research from Wine Intelligence.

Tim Atkin MW: A taste of things to come?

Published: 07 May, 2020

Everyone seems to have advice about how to get through lockdown. Even if we’re all still sitting here in December, our diaries emptier than your local Wetherspoons, I can’t imagine the well-meaning guidance changing much. Eat healthily, exercise, take up a new hobby, read a book, tidy your cupboards, call your friends and family, order food online.

Freixenet Copestick in Drinks Trust fundraiser

Published: 05 May, 2020

The Freixenet Copestick team is raising money for The Drinks Trust through the month of May with an initiative called the FXC Drinks Dash.

Joe Fattorini: Together we can change the world

Published: 27 April, 2020

“By May 1966, the plan to dam the Grand Canyon was all but enshrined in law. The bulldozers were already shattering the primordial peace, the scaffolding was up and the drilling had begun.” As one campaigner said: “The fight was lost. The dams had been approved. They were being supported by the Kennedy administration … and both houses of Congress.” His voice tinged with a despondency many of us have come to know in the past few weeks.

#VirtualHappyHour releases promotional video

Published: 02 April, 2020

Following its launch two weeks ago, #TheVirtualHappyHour has partnered with events business Team Spirit to create a video in support of the campaign.

Distil and BHC end new joint venture

Published: 31 March, 2020

British drinks companies Distil and British Honey Company have folded their recently launched joint venture.

Pierre Mansour, The Wine Society, on trade as the crisis escalates

Published: 19 March, 2020

Pierre Mansour, head buyer at The Wine Society, speaks to Andrew Catchpole on the immediate impact of the crisis, managing the spike in sales, supply and virtual initiatives to keep members engaged.

Coronavirus: Supplier responses to the Chancellor’s support measures

Published: 18 March, 2020

As the extraordinary complexity of the current situation fully sinks in, Andrew Catchpole discovers how those supplying the on-trade have reacted to the Chancellor’s support measures for businesses.