Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Liberty Wines goes ‘carbon neutral plus’

Published: 18 October, 2021

Liberty Wines has revealed that it has become the only ‘carbon neutral plus’ UK wine supplier – offsetting more emissions than the business generates.

The big freeze

Published: 18 October, 2021

The tailbacks at Felixstowe are the latest plot-twist in the ongoing Covid and Brexit supply saga which is causing disruption for operators. Jo Gilbert looks at the impact on bulk shipments.

Hospitality workers accuse bosses of keeping tips

Published: 18 October, 2021

More than half of hospitality workers in the UK claim their bosses lie about tips, according to new research by comparison site money.co.uk.

Tim Atkin MW: The new joy of travel

Published: 14 October, 2021

After 18 months of Zoom calls, Instagram Lives and home tastings, of Coravin capsules, small samples and endless recycling bags, I finally got to visit a wine region two weeks ago. To be strictly accurate, I did go on an inspirational visit to Danbury Ridge in Essex last year, squeezed in between lockdowns, but my trip to Ribera del Duero involved getting on a plane and flying to another country. Spain always lifts my spirits, but this time they soared.

Soho Street Cocktails signs exclusive distribution deal with Vindependents

Published: 13 October, 2021

Soho Street Cocktails, the ready-to-drink premium cocktail brand, has signed an exclusive distribution deal with Vindependents, the independent merchant buying group.

Late-night sector loses 86,000 jobs due to pandemic

Published: 13 October, 2021

The UK’s night-time cultural economy (NTCE) sector has been ravaged by the pandemic, with around 86,000 jobs lost in the sector since the 2019 high, a new report has found.

BWS sales continue to fall in grocery sector

Published: 12 October, 2021

Grocery alcohol sales fell by 6% for the 12 weeks to 3 October due to the impact of the reopening of the on-trade, the latest data from Kantar has revealed.

The Drinks Trust launches first ever charity auction

Published: 12 October, 2021

The Drinks Trust has launched ‘Cream of the Crop’, its first ever charity auction aiming to raise £75k to support the people who produce and pour drinks across the UK.

SME distillers call for duty freeze to prevent the British gin bubble from bursting

Published: 12 October, 2021

Britain’s gin makers are calling on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to freeze spirit duty and extend hospitality’s VAT cut to alcoholic drinks to help boost British business.

Trade groups call for PM to keep VAT at 12.5% to help economic recovery

Published: 12 October, 2021

A coalition of the country’s hospitality, tourism trade and membership bodies has called on the Prime Minister to keep VAT low for businesses to help them play their part in the Government’s levelling-up and job creation agenda.

When in Rome implements climate footprint labels

Published: 11 October, 2021

When in Rome, the Stroud-based wine company, has revealed that it has become the first wine brand in the UK to implement a climate footprint label on its packaging.

France Report: The Rhône’s great whites

Published: 11 October, 2021

A fresher, technology-driven approach to white wine in the Rhône is helping producers in both the north and south of the region to find an audience, as Simon Woods reports.

New double bill sparkling launch for Graham Beck

Published: 11 October, 2021

South Africa’s leading sparkling wine brand in the UK market Graham Beck has launched a new ‘double bill’ named Yin & Yang, as part of its artisan collection.

Wine Drinkers UK call for wine duty freeze

Published: 07 October, 2021

A combination of climate change, labour shortages and increased shipping costs are threatening Britain’s wine supplies, with price rises likely to follow, Wine Drinkers UK (WDUK) has claimed.

New campaign calls for Chancellor to keep VAT at 12.5% to support hospitality recovery

Published: 07 October, 2021

A major new campaign – #VATsEnough – is calling on the Chancellor Rishi Sunak to make the 12.5% VAT rate permanent for hospitality and tourism.

Long Read: Will vogue for organic grow beyond pandemic?

Published: 07 October, 2021

The organic market, along with its wine and beer subdivision, swelled during the past year, but whether this was a spur-of-the-moment spike driven merely by the pandemic remains to be seen. Callum Saunders, planning director at Zeal Creative, dives into the UK trend to explore whether organic wine and beer is set to be a staple in the drinks sector.

Investment shortfall highlighted as PM tells hospitality to fund its skills and pay gap

Published: 06 October, 2021

The hospitality sector is expected to invest in funding the sector’s skills and pay gap itself, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has signalled.

Côtes de Bordeaux to host virtual trade training event

Published: 06 October, 2021

A dedicated virtual trade training event to explore the wines of Côtes de Bordeaux is being held on 19 October 2021.

Alliance Wine strengthens team with new appointments

Published: 06 October, 2021

Alliance Wine has revealed it has strengthened its business with two new appointments.

Discovering the charms of Roussillon

Published: 06 October, 2021

As the home of France’s fortified sweet wines, with a dazzling array of soils and microclimates forming a vinous bridge between France and Spain, the Roussillon deserves to be recognised as a distinct region with its own unique identify. Jo Gilbert discovers a region ready to stand on its own two feet. In partnership with Wines of Roussillon.