Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

All female-panel selects the winners in the 2015 Argentina Wine Awards

Published: 20 February, 2015

An all-female line up of international judges have voted for the winners in the 2015 Argentina wine awards.

Byron and Browns come out top in new customer poll for best on-trade chains

Published: 20 February, 2015

If you want to sell your wines and spirits to the happiest of customers then you need to get on the lists at Byron, the premium burger chain, and Browns, according to new research from CGA Peach BrandTrack.

One week to go to enter the Harpers Awards 2015

Published: 20 February, 2015

The clock is ticking but there is still time to get your entries in for the Harpers Awards 2015.

Monkey Shoulder sets off in search of the Ultimate Bartender

Published: 20 February, 2015

Scotch whisky brand, Monkey Shoulder, is launching a new competition to find the "Ulitmate Bartender" in the UK with a series of regional trials with the overall winner getting the chance to run their own pop up bar during London Cocktail Week.

Wine and spirits companies urged to tweet out their support for a Drop in Duty

Published: 20 February, 2015

Today Harpers is repeating its call to all wine and spirits producers around the globe that are frustrated by the high alcohol duty levels in the UK to put their name and voice behind the industry's Drop the Duty campaign and raise the issue with the Chancellor, George Osborne.

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Published: 16 February, 2015

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Tim Atkin takes the Vinopolis stage for Skin Côntact Comic Relief gig

Published: 16 February, 2015

Anyone in the wine trade who has been on the receiving end of a review by wine critic and journalist Tim Atkin MW - good or bad - will get the chance to give him a critique back when he bravely takes the stage as one of the guest singers for the ever growing Skin Côntact band when it plays its one off gig on March 9 to raise money for Comic Relief.

March for Independents campaign keeps merchants on right side of the law

Published: 16 February, 2015

Today Harpers starts its third Action Week initiative as part of its March for the Independents campaign with a focus on helping merchants keep on top of the latest changes in business, employment and drinks legislation.

March for Independents campaign keeps merchants on right side of the law

Published: 16 February, 2015

Today Harpers starts its third Action Week initiative as part of its March for the Independents campaign with a focus on helping merchants keep on top of the latest changes in business, employment and drinks legislation.

Joe Wadsack shares his musical likes as Skin Contact's Comic Relief gig is selling fast

Published: 13 February, 2015

We've met the band, the backing singers and plugged the concert enough to surely convince you to buy a ticket for wine band Skin Côntact's one-off concert on March 9 at London's Vinopolis to raise money for Comic Relief.

Calling on wine and spirits producers around the world to back Drop the Duty campaign

Published: 13 February, 2015

Today Harpers is calling on wine and spirits producers around the world concerned about the high alcohol duty levels in the UK to get involved in the Drop the Duty campaign and have their voice heard by the Chancellor, George Osborne.

MPs back Drop the Duty campaign by taking trade's duty call to the Chancellor

Published: 11 February, 2015

MPs across the country are starting to respond to independent wine merchants and members of the wider wine and spirits industry who have contacted them through the Drop the Duty campaign calling on them to lobby the Chancellor for a 2% duty cut in the March Budget.

Red Squirrel Wines behind new trade initiative to promote Bulgarian wines

Published: 10 February, 2015

Independent wine merchant, Red Squirrel Wines, is behind a new initiative to put the spotlight on wines from Bulgaria with four days of events in March including a trade tasting at the Bulgarian Embassy on March 18.

Cambridge Wine's Hal Wilson urges independents to lobby their MP for duty cut

Published: 10 February, 2015

Following yesterday's call by Harpers to independent wine merchants to play their part in the industry wide campaign to convince the Chancellor to issue a duty cut on wine and spirits in his March Budget, leading independent Hal Wilson of Cambridge Wine Merchants today explains why he has personally lobbied his local MP, the Liberal Democrat Julian Huppert, and urges other merchants to do the same.

Action Week 2: Call to indies to lobby local MP and media for a Drop in Duty

Published: 09 February, 2015

Harpers is today calling on independent wine merchants across the UK to lobby both their MP and local media to back the Drop the Duty campaign and help raise the profile of their business on this key business issue.

Chris Dee takes helm at Booths after 20 years with northern retailer

Published: 06 February, 2015

Chris Dee, who started his career at Booths as a wine and spirits director, has been promoted to the new position of chief executive officer after 20 years with the company.

Richard Siddle: why Tesco's product cull will impact everyone in the trade

Published: 06 February, 2015

Here are a few questions for you? Do you work with any of the major supermarkets? If so do you ever take a close look at what is happening in any other aisle of the store other than wine and spirits? I mean do you assess how a particular category like confectionery, health and beauty or crisps and snacks is merchandised? How many suppliers in that fixture that retailer works with? What sort of promotions they are running? If you don't then you need to.

Tesco calls on wine suppliers for added payments as Grocery Code Adjudicator starts inquiry

Published: 06 February, 2015

In the last 24 hours Tesco has issued two separate requests for wine suppliers to pay effectively the same additional payment for increased sales volumes they have received for their products following its recent product cull.

Glenrothes releases a 1968 edition to its Extraordinary Cask Collection

Published: 05 February, 2015

Berry Bros & Rudd has unearthed another rare single cask it is releasing to become the third editon in its Extradordinary Cask Collection series.

Great Western Wine reports strong 2014 sales helped by surge in Christmas trading

Published: 04 February, 2015

Great Western Wine has reported strong 2014 sales up 14% on the previous year with a particularly strong Christmas trading period where it increased sales by 25% year-on-year.