Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

The trade seeks change ahead of the November Budget

Published: 09 October, 2025

Writing about the state of the drinks trade over the past year, it can be hard not to get drawn towards a general sense of gloom. Amid the frustration at a raft of government policies that have unfairly hamstrung the sector, from off-trade to on, one thing that has become clear is the industry is willing to fight for a fairer legislative landscape. The recent revelation that duty receipts have been in decline despite the February tax hike shows that those frustrated across the wine and spirits world were lucid in their critique. Calls for change are all the more vital at present given the Budget is due to be announced on 26 November. Harpers sought the perspective of leading industry figures before the government’s next key policy announcement.

Tom Platt: ‘Looking Back, Forging Ahead’

Published: 29 August, 2025

Liberty Wines CEO Tom Platt continues our summer Q&A series with a measured take on the challenges to the trade.

Sparkling and sustainability pave the way at annual Liberty tasting

Published: 22 January, 2025

Sparkling wines and sustainability are at the forefront of Liberty Wines push into the challenging 2025 market in the UK, with Spain also an expected driver of sales.

On-trade: The psychology of wine lists

Published: 02 October, 2024

James Bayley digs deep into what makes a wine list tick.

From gelato to Gunderloch – Liberty hits a high note at autumn tasting

Published: 20 September, 2024

An amped up Tom Platt, CEO of Liberty Wines, was keen to share his optimism this week as the trade steams ahead into the last months of 2024, with a particular focus on a handful of new Italian wines and a “significantly developed” Spain category striking a chord with visitors at Tuesday's (17 September) autumn tasting.

Liberty Wines named exclusive distributor for Gunderloch

Published: 18 September, 2024

Liberty Wines has been appointed as the exclusive distributor in the UK and Ireland for Gunderloch, one of the Rheinhessen’s most respected producers.

Tom Platt: ‘Looking Back, Forging Ahead’

Published: 28 August, 2024

We continue our summer Q&A series with Tom Platt, CEO of Liberty Wines.

Insights: The trade’s post-Covid recovery

Published: 13 March, 2024

Following the release of Liberty Wines’ premium on-trade report, James Bayley assesses the state of the trade in the period following the lockdowns.

Liberty Report: premium on-trade wine sales still below pre-Covid levels

Published: 23 February, 2024

Wholesaler and importer Liberty Wines has released its premium on-trade report covering the two years following the final Covid-19 lockdown in spring 2021.

Liberty doubles down on ‘giving good reasons to buy’

Published: 25 January, 2024

Liberty Wines always comes out batting strong at its busy annual portfolio tasting at The Oval, and this year was no exception, with some 25 countries represented, along with fortified, spirits, alcohol free and olive oils.

Looking Back, Forging Ahead Q&A: Tom Platt, Liberty Wines

Published: 02 January, 2024

Following another eventful year for the drinks trade, Tom Platt, CEO of Liberty Wines, reflects on the highs and lows of 2023, plus hopes and plans for the business in the year ahead.