Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Gin best-selling online spirit during lockdown

Published: 10 June, 2020

Gin has been reported to be the best-selling spirit across online platforms during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Spike in online searches for English wine

Published: 10 June, 2020

Online searches for English wine boomed as the UK headed into lockdown, according to new research.

Sharma confirms on-trade to stay shuttered until 4 July

Published: 09 June, 2020

Business secretary Alok Sharma has confirmed that the on-trade is to remain closed until 4 July.

Johnston Logistics reports eight-fold hike in alcohol throughput

Published: 09 June, 2020

Bonded warehousing and logistic experts Johnston Logistics has reported an eight-fold increase in its average throughput of wine and other alcohol during the Covid-19 lockdown.

10 June furlough deadline presents hospitality with difficult call

Published: 09 June, 2020

The 10 June cut-off for entering staff on furlough is presenting some hospitality businesses with a tough decision against an uncertain timetable for a staged reopening of the industry.

Rémy Cointreau launches free online training for hospitality workers

Published: 09 June, 2020

Rémy Cointreau has partnered with Flow Hospitality Training to provide free online training for hospitality workers.

Downey proposes revised 12-month rent free plan to chancellor

Published: 09 June, 2020

Hospitality Union founder Jonathan Downey has written a second letter to the chancellor Rishi Sunak with a new proposal for a national time out rent deal.

Soapbox: Stephen Finch on the 2 metre barrier to trade

Published: 08 June, 2020

Asking for rational trade-offs, Vagabond’s Stephen Finch voices the on-trade’s concern over the economic impact of shut-down and the 2 metre distancing rule.

Alcohol sales knocked by lockdown

Published: 08 June, 2020

Despite the marked shift from on-trade to home drinking, lockdown could still leave a sobering £7bn hole in total UK alcohol sales, as Andrew Catchpole reports.

Ginposium moves online

Published: 08 June, 2020

The Gin Guild has moved its annual gin industry seminar Ginposium online.

"Impressive" online drinks uplift here to stay

Published: 08 June, 2020

The influx of new online shoppers looks set to be sustainable, with alcoholic drinks to the fore of this growth in ecommerce.

‘Save summer six’ ministers press for 22 June on-trade reopening

Published: 08 June, 2020

Boris Johnson is understood to be close to agreement with a group of senior ministers to look at reopening the hospitality sector on 22 June.

Wine GB calls on trade to get behind virtual English Wine Week

Published: 05 June, 2020

Wine GB has called on the trade to get behind its newly launched virtual format of English Wine Week, which will take place from 20 to 28 June.

Ascot Racecourse launches online wine shop

Published: 05 June, 2020

Hallgarten and Ascot Racecourse have today announced the launch of an online 'Ascot' wine shop.

Food & accommodation sectors have largest proportion furloughed

Published: 05 June, 2020

The extent to which lockdown has impacted on the UK hospitality sector has been thrown into sharp relief by the latest ONS (Office for National Statistics) figures.

NZW announces Pinot Noir NZ 2022 dates

Published: 05 June, 2020

New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW) has announced that the next Pinot Noir NZ will take place in Christchurch from 15 – 17 February 2022.

Ed Miliband advocates targeted extension of furlough

Published: 05 June, 2020

Ed Miliband MP has shown his support for a targeted extension of the JRS in an interview this morning on BBC 4 Radio’s Today show.

Fears of Brits binge drinking through lockdown unfounded, says Portman Group

Published: 05 June, 2020

The majority of Brits are drinking the same or less compared to before lockdown, with a large majority remaining within the UK chief medical officers’ (CMO) low risk guidelines (14 units per week), according to new research released today by the Portman Group.