Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Rémy Cointreau warns profits may slump by 40%

Published: 17 April, 2014

Rémy Cointreau has warned that full year profits may plummet by 35 to 40%, thanks to a fall in Chinese sales.

Scotch whisky exports hold steady, despite Chinese decline

Published: 11 April, 2014

Scotch whisky exports held steady in 2013 at £4.3 billion, despite a sharp drop off in China, according to figures the Scotch Whisky Association.

Gun-shaped vodka bottle breaks marketing rules

Published: 10 April, 2014

Red Army Vodka, packaged in a gun-shaped bottle, has been ruled "entirely inappropriate" for suggesting a link towards violent and dangerous behaviour.

Bacardi's chief abruptly retires

Published: 09 April, 2014

Bacardi's chief executive Ed Shirley is to retire and will leave the role after just two years and with no successor named.

Brown-Forman may acquire Whyte & Mackay, not Rémy Cointreau

Published: 08 April, 2014

Last week Rémy Cointreau' stocks spiked on speculation that Brown-Forman was a possible interested buyer, however reports have surfaced that Brown-Forman is a possible bidder for the Whyte & Mackay business which is currently up for sale.

Drinkaware accuses trade of not doing enough to promote unit guidelines

Published: 04 April, 2014

Drinkaware says consumers are confused over unit guidelines and called on the industry to do more.

Quintessential acquires First Ireland cream liqueurs firm

Published: 03 April, 2014

Quintessential Brands has acquired First Ireland Spirits Company, Ireland's largest independent producer of Irish cream liqueurs, in a multi-million euro deal.

Get your five a day with new vegetable cocktail range

Published: 02 April, 2014

Those struggling to get through their five or seven fresh vegetables a day might want to try a new range of vegetable cocktails from mixologist Thomas Weinberger of Barschule München.

?Ardbeg to release limited edition 'Auriverdes' as its tribute to the Brazilian World Cup

Published: 28 March, 2014

Auriverdes is a 2014 limited edition Scotch whisky produced by Islay's Ardbeg Distillery that plays tribute to the World Cup taking place in Brazil this summer. It is being released to coincide with Ardbeg Day on May 31.

Wine sales down 2% in on and off-trade, says WSTA report

Published: 27 March, 2014

Wine is still struggling in both the on and off-trade, with sales down 2% over the last year, says the latest WSTA market report.

Tennessee whiskey repeal bill shot down - for now

Published: 27 March, 2014

The proposed bill challenging the definition of Tennessee whiskey was temporarily laid to rest earlier this week as state lawmakers voted to shelve consideration of the bill until the summer.

?Shareholders approve Suntory acquisition of Jim Beam for US$16 billion

Published: 27 March, 2014

Beam shareholders have approved the acquisition by Suntory Holdings of Japan at the share-selling price of US$83.50 per share, putting the sale value at US$16bn.

?William Grant appoints Rob Allanson as global ambassador

Published: 21 March, 2014

Rob Allanson joins William Grant & Sons Ltd. as the new global ambassador for Grant's Blended Scotch Whisky.

Alcohol duty escalator scrapped in Budget

Published: 19 March, 2014

The alcohol duty escalator has been scrapped, while duty on spirits has been frozen and beer duty has been cut by 1p per pint.

Scrapping duty escalator will benefit wine and spirits trade by £175m

Published: 19 March, 2014

Scrapping the duty escalator and freezing spirits duty will boost the wine and spirits trade to the tune of £175 million, says the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

Budget 2014 Live Updates: Trade celebrates the end of duty escalator

Published: 19 March, 2014

The trade has united to welcome Chancellor George Osborne's announcement that he is ending the duty escalator for alcohol and freezing spirits duty.

Drinks trade nervously anticipates Budget

Published: 19 March, 2014

As time runs out before the 2014 Budget is announced later today, the drinks trade nervously shuffles its papers following a hard-fought campaign to scrap the duty escalator.

Bacardí launches multi-million pound marketing campaign

Published: 18 March, 2014

Bacardí has launched a multi-million pound marketing campaign in the UK around its "irrepressible spirit".

Public poll gives overwhelming support to cuts in duty in this week's Budget

Published: 17 March, 2014

Only 3% of the British public think alcoholic drinks are not too expensive in pubs and restaurants and unless more is done to cut duty levels they are likely to spend more time drinking at home.