Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Embrace balance sheet or risk going bust, warns TWE head

Published: 30 November, 2012

Knowing how to make wine but "not embracing the balance sheet" is the reason so many wine businesses have gone...

Accolade Wines' CEO Troy Christensen departs

Published: 30 November, 2012

Accolade Wines' chief executive Troy Christensen has left the business today "by mutual agreement".

Pernod Ricard appoints new spirits channel director

Published: 29 November, 2012

Pernod Ricard UK has appointed Chris Shead as channel director for spirits in the off-trade.

ROLLING UPDATE Alcohol strategy: trade polarised over new measures

Published: 28 November, 2012

The measures proposed by government under its alcohol consultation have polarised opinion within the drinks trade, with the main trade body and producers condemning minimum pricing, while some in the on-trade and smaller merchants believe it is a good idea.

Accolade Wines' chief calls on drinks trade to unite

Published: 27 November, 2012

Accolade Wines' UK head Paul Schaafsma has joined the call for the drinks industry to present a united front...

Perrier-Jouët sparkles with gift box

Published: 21 November, 2012

Anyone looking for a gifting idea for any occasion, can't not be attracted by the Perrier-Jouët collaboration with British artist and designer Claire Coles.

New Portman Group code sets 'gold standard' for drinks marketing

Published: 09 November, 2012

Stricter rules governing how images of under 25s are used in alcohol marketing, new guidelines on promoting lower strength drinks and closer ties with the Advertising Standards Authority are all key facets of the Portman Group's revised code of practice.

Ex-Waverley wine boss joins Australian Vintage

Published: 05 November, 2012

Ex-Waverley wine boss Henry Moran has joined Australian Vintage.

Treasury Wine Estates acquires Rapaura Vintners

Published: 02 November, 2012

Treasury Wine Estates has purchased the remaining 50% of Rapaura Vintners from Babich Wines in a bid to strengthen its foothold in Marlborough.

Hardys ramps up food sponsorship campaign

Published: 29 October, 2012

Accolade Wines is targeting 145,000 consumers through a stepped-up sponsorship and sampling campaign at the BBC Good Food Shows this autumn.

UK to become expert resource centre for global wine supply

Published: 23 October, 2012

The UK is turning itself into a global centre of excellence for wine distribution and understanding as it loses its place as the world's most critical wine market.

Bill Hardy vows to protect family name

Published: 10 October, 2012

Bill Hardy, winemaker and family member at the leading Australian wine brand, is intent on safeguarding his heritage and has no intention of stepping down from the firm his family built.

South Africa all set to gain more share

Published: 05 October, 2012

South Africa is "very well positioned" to take market share from countries like Australia as it now claims to be able to supply quality wine at all price levels.

Waitrose relaunches own-label range

Published: 04 October, 2012

Waitrose is relaunching its own-label wine, beer and spirit range, which includes 77 lines and wines for under £5.

Geoffrey Dean blog: tasting highlights from Cape Wine

Published: 28 September, 2012

After a four rather than customary two-year gap on account of the football World Cup in South Africa in 2010, the Cape Wine trade fair returned to Cape Town this week. A huge number of interesting and high quality South African wines were available for tasting, in the presence of a phalanx of winemakers at the Cape Town Convention Centre. Harpers sampled scores of the wines, and here are some of the highlights, all of which should be available in the UK.

Government's zeal for minimum pricing means 'pause' in industry co-operation, warns WSTA

Published: 27 September, 2012

WSTA chief executive Miles Beale has warned that the government's U-turn on minimum pricing would lead to a "pause" in the industry's co-operation.

KWV joins forces with Myliko Wines in renewed UK focus

Published: 27 September, 2012

KWV is looking to re-invent itself in the UK with a new strategy centred on working through Manchester-based wine agency Myliko Wines.

Wine drinkers ditch prejudice towards lower alcohol and boxed wines

Published: 21 September, 2012

Wine drinkers are ditching their prejudices towards lower alcohol wines and bag-in-box packaging, with sales growing in both areas.

Business chiefs and economists head line up at WSTA conference

Published: 18 September, 2012

Pernod Ricard UK's Denis O'Flynn, Alison Levett of Enotria and Glenn Caton of Laithwaite's are three of the keynote speakers at next week's Wine & Spirit Trade Association conference.

ICP rules Absolut London not in breach of code

Published: 07 September, 2012

The Independent Complaints Panel has ruled the design of the Absolut London bottle does not have a particular appeal to under 18s, after Alcohol Concern lodged a complaint.