Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Nick Gillett: Toe to toe with giants – how independent spirits can compete

Published: 26 January, 2026

In today’s challenging economy, with all the difficulties UK hospitality is facing, it can feel like the drinks industry is being shaped more and more by our sector’s biggest players; the big boys of global industry with deep, deep pockets and reach. But let’s get it straight: the environment we’re currently in gives them a competitive edge. It helps them to win shelf space and bar listings – and that’s intimidating. I imagine if you’re a challenger brand or reasonably new to the market, you’re frustrated by the status quo.

Wine suppliers face pressure on margins while sales rise

Published: 07 April, 2025

Wine suppliers in the UK have seen sales revenue jump over the past year, according to data from Unleashed, though many felt pressure on their margins grow.

Jerry Lockspeiser: Is a key marketing tool hiding in plain sight?

Published: 17 July, 2024

During the 1990’s my business sold millions of bottles of great value Hungarian wines to the UK’s supermarkets. The wines were made under the guidance of a young Australian winemaker whose hands on approach ensured they bristled with ripe fruit flavours. Retailing at the equivalent of £6-£8 at today’s prices they went down a storm in the high-volume part of the burgeoning wine market.

Nick Gillett: How the duty rise reveals the lack of duty to business

Published: 08 August, 2023

It doesn’t seem to matter what flavour of government you have at the moment – when it comes to the spirits and hospitality industries, there’s a stench of incompetence. In Scotland we have the incredibly public failure of the DRS scheme, which, as a result, has wasted millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money. But don’t be fooled – it really is no better, south of the border. Westminster will raise you a cock up, in the form of the increased duty rates.

Future-proofing the on-trade

Published: 22 September, 2021

With the buffeting the on-trade has received it’s hardly surprising that many are talking about ongoing change, as Andrew Catchpole asks what form that may take.

Profits up at TWE as premiumisation drive pays off

Published: 15 August, 2019

Profits at Treasury Wine Estates leapt 16% over the last year, driven by the group’s focus on premiumisation.

Big squeeze tipped for 2018 as lower volumes and tighter margins predicted

Published: 06 November, 2017

What is shaping up to be the smallest vintage in 50 years is predicted to cause a “dramatic decline in wine availability going into 2018”, with the lower-price tiers of the European industry expected to be the worst affected.