Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Delivering a new approach

Published: 17 April, 2020

As lockdown happened, Lisa Riley looked at how the on-trade adapted to create opportunities in an alien situation.

Craft breweries take significant lockdown hit

Published: 17 April, 2020

An average 82% drop in beers sales has been recorded by small independent breweries across the UK since the outbreak of Covid-19, according to new Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) research released today

Drinks Trust Covid-19 Relief Fund extended until 14 April, 7pm

Published: 10 April, 2020

The window for applications to The Drinks Trust Covid-19 Financial Relief Fund has been extended until Tuesday 14 April, 7pm, to allow an extra working day post the Easter Bank Holiday.

UK Hospitality and CPL Learning launch hospitality training platform

Published: 09 April, 2020

UK Hospitality and CPL Learning have launched an online training platform for hospitality team members.

Jancis Robinson MW reaches out to hospitality workers

Published: 08 April, 2020

Jancis Robinson MW has reached out to hospitality workers by giving industry professional free access to all of JancisRobinson.com.

Drinks brands should “radically rethink” B2C social media messages

Published: 08 April, 2020

Against the disruption of coronavirus (Covid-19), drinks brands “need to radically rethink their key messages when communicating with consumers on social media”, according to IWSR.

In the midst of Covid-19 Veeno eyes up expansion via franchising

Published: 08 April, 2020

Veeno has revealed plans to expand via franchising, while also unveiling plans to renovate its key wine bars as it looks beyond to a post-coronavirus (Covid-19) future.

David Gleave MW: Drinking up recovery

Published: 07 April, 2020

David Gleave MW, MD of Liberty Wines, on how upselling diversity in wines will be the way to thrive

Stockpiling and on-trade closure send off-trade BWS sales through the roof

Published: 31 March, 2020

Off-trade sales of beer, wine and spirits (BWS) surged 67% in the week to 21 March - the week the government announced the closure of the on-trade.

Bacardi launches $3m on-trade support initiative

Published: 24 March, 2020

Bacardi has pledged $3m to support bars and restaurants around the world debilitated by the coronavirus shutdown.

Government clarifies ‘lockdown’ on and off-trade measures

Published: 24 March, 2020

The government has clarified the measures required to be taken by both the on and off-trade following the announcement last night of a three-week nationwide UK ‘lockdown’.

On-trade sales drop 15% in week before ‘warning’

Published: 20 March, 2020

On-trade sales declined 15% in the week up to 15 March, before the Prime Minister’s warning that the public should avoid going to pubs, clubs and social venues because of the growing coronavirus (Covid-19) threat.

Coronavirus: No plans to enforce on-trade closures

Published: 19 March, 2020

The Prime Minister has confirmed that there are no timelines or plans in place to enforce restaurants, bars or pubs to close as long as the advice given by the government is followed by the public.

LWC makes temporary switch to B2C model in reaction to coronavirus

Published: 19 March, 2020

LWC Drinks has announced it will be temporarily switching to a Business to Consumer (B2C) model, with the hospitality trade-focused business now accepting consumer orders to maintain business continuity during the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.

M Restaurants adopt social distancing plan

Published: 19 March, 2020

In response to falling footfall and social distancing, London’s M Restaurants has introduced a series of measures to help mitigate the downturn.

Argentina report: Darling of  the on-trade

Published: 19 March, 2020

Argentinian wine continues to be a UK success story, fighting through currency woes and falling wine consumption,  as James  Lawrence reports

Coronavirus: On-trade operators urged to maintain licensing compliance

Published: 19 March, 2020

Law firm John Gaunt & Partners has urged on-trade operators not to ignore licensing compliances following the government’s coronavirus-led policy to allow pubs and restaurants to operate in the home delivery market.

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.

Chancellor announces additional £20bn support for retail, hospitality and leisure sectors

Published: 17 March, 2020

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has increased promised government support for the hospitality sector, with a mix of tax cuts and grants, amounting to a £20bn support package, in addition to an overall support package of government backed and guaranteed loans available to business of £330bn.

Coronaviris: Harpers to assist business with exchange of ideas, advice and information

Published: 16 March, 2020

In response to the advancing coronavirus crisis, the Harpers team is asking off and on-trade business, large and small, to share strategies and initiatives designed to help drive commercial activity and sales through a period of unprecedented disruption and uncertainty.