Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Diageo partners with Deliveroo for last minute Christmas orders

Published: 14 December, 2016

Diageo is the latest company to hop into bed with delivery start-up Deliveroo.

Christmas could rescue the multiples from a dismal November

Published: 14 December, 2016

Shoppers might have been happy with their purchases but Black Friday failed to bring a boost to supermarkets when the shopping holiday landed on November 26.

Around the World in 80 Drinks: Review of The Thinking Drinkers

Published: 12 December, 2016

Watching Ben McFarland and Tom Sandham at last nights Around the World in 80 Drinks at the Museum of Comedy in Holborn, you might be forgiven for thinking that the Fogg & Passepartout duo were embarking on nothing more than an hour long global booze fest; a kind of drinks pantomime that takes place from Italy to India and Korea to Venezuela.

Top Tipples of 2016: The 12-month countdown

Published: 12 December, 2016

As the British electorate showed us in June - followed by Americans in November - 2016 has been the year to rip up the rulebook.

Alan Sugar's big gin debate: Are coloured gins a big no-no?

Published: 09 December, 2016

The issues surrounding colouring usually clear spirits came to the wider public's attention last night with the latest episode of BBC1's The Apprentice.

Record-breaking year for gin makes it the success story of 2016, says WSTA

Published: 09 December, 2016

2016 has proved to be a record-breaking year for gin, with end of year sales continuing to soar.

French gin partners with London's hotel bars

Published: 07 December, 2016

Ethical spirits brand Fair has teamed up with 12 top London hotels to launch its Christmas marketing campaign.

New report backs minimum pricing as consumption rises 42% from 1980

Published: 05 December, 2016

The government department for public health has praised the benefits of minimum pricing after releasing a report which shows that UK consumers are drinking 42% more than there were in 1980.

Pernod Ricard off-loads brandy to focus on spirits

Published: 02 December, 2016

Pernod Ricard is selling the Domecq brand and its related brandies and wines to Emperador Group and Gonzalez Byass.

Arbikie launches limited edition strawberry vodka

Published: 30 November, 2016

Scottish farm-to-bottle distillery Arbikie Highland Estate is releasing a limited edition fresh strawberry vodka in the run-up to Christmas.

Lucas Bols taps COLD's Michael Mann for UK brand ambassador role

Published: 30 November, 2016

Lucas Bols has appointed Michael Mann, formerly of the City of London Distillery, as its UK brand ambassador.

Bacardi expands global leadership team

Published: 29 November, 2016

Spirit behemoth Bacardi has appointed a new senior vice president and global chief communications officer.

Four Pillars joins up with Love Drinks for UK distribution

Published: 28 November, 2016

Yara Valley distillery Four Pillars Gin, has appointed a new distributor for the UK.

Remy Cointreau re-bounds with 7% sales growth

Published: 24 November, 2016

Top Cognac producer Remy Cointreau has reversed its fortunes after a difficult 2015.

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.