Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Bottled tea range targets luxury mixer market

Published: 23 November, 2016

Luxury tea company Benjamin & Blum has launched a range of bottled teas designed to pair with spirits.

SWA to challenge minimum pricing in Supreme Court

Published: 21 November, 2016

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) is set to appeal against the introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) of alcohol in Scotland in the UK's Supreme Court, the organisation has announced.

The week that was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

Published: 17 November, 2016

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have put together a review of the top online news, Q&As, and opinion stories.

Getting into the Christmas spirit

Published: 16 November, 2016

As the countdown begins to the most wonderful - and lucrative - time of the year, Harpers looks at how retailers can make the most of the opportunities presented by premium spirits.

Scottish minimum pricing to impact over half of alcohol sales, while wine and premium spirits could benefit

Published: 15 November, 2016

Wine and premium brands could be the big winners of Scotland's impending minimum price legislation, it has been revealed.

Legal clarity is overdue for Scotch whisky 'finishing'

Published: 14 November, 2016

Whisky and particularly Scotch is perhaps the most litigious subject of all spirits. Quite rightly its firm tradition and great export sales are protected by intellectual property rights. Yet a gap has emerged which is widening and worrying.

Campari launches pre-mixed Negroni cocktail, as "in" becomes "the new out" for consumers

Published: 10 November, 2016

Campari is looking to capitalise on the trend towards premium cocktails in the off-trade with the launch of a ready-to-drink Negroni cocktail.

Brexit minister begins talks with the WSTA to discuss how to manage leaving the EU

Published: 10 November, 2016

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) met Brexit minister David Jones last week to discuss how the industry can protect trade and the 600,000 of jobs currently supporting the UK wines and spirits industry.

Fever Tree sees strong growth in demand for premium mixers

Published: 08 November, 2016

Premium tonic water producer, Fever Tree, is in line to jump ahead of predictions in the second half of 2016, with analysts predicting full-year UK sales growth of 95%.

Anne Burchett to leave Sopexa

Published: 07 November, 2016

Anne Burchett has resigned as her role as MD of the UK & Ireland at food, beverage and lifestyle marketing agency, Sopexa.

Jago looks to grow WSTA membership and "unite the trade" ahead of Brexit

Published: 07 November, 2016

New WSTA chairman Dan Jago has said he wants to strengthen the trade body by including more members in order to face the "monumental" challenge posed by Brexit head-on.

Great Western partners to offer wine and vinyl subscription service

Published: 04 November, 2016

A Bath-based wine merchant is by teaming up with two craft businesses which will see their wines paired, not with cheese or olives, but with chocolates and vinyl records.

Spotlight on Scottish gin inside the Scottish Parliament

Published: 04 November, 2016

Scotland's contribution to the UK's gin boom took centre stage at a meeting of MSPs and producers inside the Scottish Parliament, where it was recognised for being one of - if not the - biggest gin exporters in the world.

New wine and spirits listings at Sainsbury's and Asda

Published: 03 November, 2016

Argentinean winery Bodega Argento is preparing to launch a new line of "fresh and fun" Buenos Aires-inspired wines to Sainsbury's this winter.

Consumers looking to premium spirits to express themselves, says Waitrose report

Published: 02 November, 2016

Self-expression and defining "who you are through what you drink" were the key drinks trends to come out of Waitrose's Food and Drink Report 2016 released today.

Wine and spirits hit £4bn in duty revenues for the Exchequer

Published: 31 October, 2016

Duty contributions for the wine and spirits industry has hit the £4bn benchmark for the first time, with alcohol sales hitting an all-time high.

Conviviality signs two-year supply agreement with Palmer & Harvey

Published: 28 October, 2016

Leading independent wholesaler Convivality Plc is entering into a two-way supply deal with Palmer and Harvey McLane Limited (P&H), supplying beers, wines and spirits in exchange for tobacco.

WSET to open first international office in Hong Kong

Published: 26 October, 2016

The leading education body for wines and spirits in the UK has announced plans to open a second administrative base in Hong Kong in order to meet growing demand from greater China.

Co-op sets up European distribution hub in radical change to supply strategy for its continental wines

Published: 26 October, 2016

The words 'agility' and 'flexibility' are used frequently by Simon Cairns. As the Co-op's beers wines and spirits trading director, he has overseen a category enjoying buoyant growth this year, with a 4.3% increase in like for like sales across the sector, according to the latest Nielsen reports.