Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Retail gin sales hit all time high

Published: 10 June, 2021

Sales of gin in the retail sector have continued to soar during the pandemic, up 30% over the past 12 months.

Alliance appoints two new board members

Published: 09 June, 2021

Alliance Wine has added two new members to its board of directors, effective immediately.

The pros and cons of LWF

Published: 09 June, 2021

As a first, it was hard to predict how well last month’s London Wine Fair (LWF) Digital Edition would work for both visitors and exhibitors. Lisa Riley reports.

Investment in hospitality sector slumps 14%

Published: 08 June, 2021

Business investment in the hospitality sector slumped 13.7% last year, trailing UK industry as a whole, according to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data.

Cava DO limits production for second year

Published: 07 June, 2021

The Regulatory Council of the Cava DO has approved placing temporary limits on production for the second year in a row to help rebalance the market.

Vivino names new CEO

Published: 03 June, 2021

Vivino has named Olivier Grémillon as the company’s new CEO, taking over from co-founder Heini Zachariassen.

Global alcohol consumption to return to pre-Covid levels by 2023

Published: 03 June, 2021

The global beverage alcohol market is showing positive signs of recovery and is projected to grow 2.9% in volume by the end of 2021, according IWSR research.

Recruitment and retention ‘huge’ concerns for hospitality

Published: 03 June, 2021

Fears of staff shortages after the pandemic and Brexit, plus challenges in keeping post-furlough teams productive have come out as key concerns for hospitality business leaders.

Glasgow restrictions eased as Scottish opening paused

Published: 02 June, 2021

Pubs and restaurants in Scotland are facing a transition phase as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed a cautious easing of restrictions with Glasgow to move to level 2.

UKH: ‘Delay on further relaxation of restrictions will have devastating effect’

Published: 02 June, 2021

Any potential delay on further relaxation of restrictions this month would have a “devastating effect on an already-fragile hospitality sector”, Kate Nicholls, CEO of UK Hospitality (UKH) has said.

Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris 2021 to focus on ‘Bouncing Back’ with digital format

Published: 01 June, 2021

Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris 2021 will be providing live sessions focusing on the upturn of the wine and spirits industry called Bouncing Back after the year long pandemic.

UKH urges English outlets to prepare for new business rates payments

Published: 01 June, 2021

UK Hospitality (UKH) has urged sector businesses in England to fully prepare for new business rates payments that will kick in from 1 July, with new bills expected to land in the coming weeks.

Long Read: Hidden gems making their mark

Published: 27 May, 2021

While travel has been restricted, many wine drinkers have been on their own journey of exploration enjoying hidden gem wines – whether unusual varieties from popular wine-growing countries or regions, or familiar grapes from unfamiliar places.

Enjoying the great outdoors

Published: 26 May, 2021

With some restrictions easing but others still in place, drinks companies are capitalising on practical solutions to outdoor drinking, as Lisa Riley reports.

Job vacancies in hospitality sector rise 46%

Published: 25 May, 2021

The number of new job vacancies in the hospitality sector rose by 46% in the last two weeks, according to new analysis by audit, tax and consulting firm RSM.

Wine Guild launches free hospitality courses

Published: 18 May, 2021

The Wine Guild Education (WGEd), the skills development arm of the Wine Guild of the United Kingdom, has launched a new suite of free hospitality service training courses.

Sud de France Top 100 unveiled

Published: 17 May, 2021

The winners of the Sud de France Top 100 competition, run in media partnership with Harpers, have been unveiled.

A third of licensed premises reopened in April

Published: 17 May, 2021

After only a third of licensed premises traded in GB's first phase of reopening, today (17 May) marks the opportunity for many more to finally reopen, with most of the two-thirds (67.1%) of operators that have not yet traded having the option to do so as the on-trade is allowed to reopen indoors.

Pandemic boosts Argentinian and rosé wine sales

Published: 17 May, 2021

Argentinian wine and rosé were two of the alcoholic beverages which saw a “remarkable uplift” in retail sales during lockdowns and restrictions in 2020, according to the latest WSTA Market Report.