Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Christmas Report: why premium spirits are key for festive sales

Published: 07 November, 2014

Premium spirits are a crucial selling feature of the festive season. Helen Arnold explains why:

France Summit Report: How France is performing globally and online

Published: 07 November, 2014

Tim Wilson of the Wilson Drinks Report, Anne Burchett of Sopexa and Jon Rebuck of Winesdirect offer their insights and views on the latest trends surrounding French wines in the on and off-trades at France Summit 2014.

Gerard Basset, Hal Wilson and Kathrine Larsen lead France Summit masterclasses

Published: 07 November, 2014

Hal Wilson co-owner of Cambridge Wine Merchants, Gerard Basset and UK Sommelier of the year 2014 Kathrine Larsen led masterclasses at last month's Harpers France Summit that looked at trends and what sort of wines were appropriate for the independent wine merchant and premium on-trade sectors.

France Summit Report: Are French producers adapting to the UK consumer?

Published: 07 November, 2014

How well is the French wine industry adapting to suit the needs of the UK trade and consumer? That was the question posed to some of the UK's leading French importers, on-trade operators and producers themselves at Harpers' second annual France Summit.

Suppliers and indpendents unite for Best Practice debate

Published: 07 November, 2014

To help independents and suppliers work together more effectively Harpers hosted an open trade debate to see the difference the Best Practice Guidelines are having on day-to-day business.

TescoGate Special Report: how will retailers and suppliers work together in the future

Published: 17 October, 2014

Leading analysts and trade experts are divided over whether the Tesco accounting scandal will have ramifications for the wider trade. Some say there will be "no change whatsoever" in the retail landscape, while others say the change will be "seismic".

Harpers Special Report: multiple and supplier relations uncovered

Published: 08 October, 2014

Tesco has taken a bit of a battering in recent months, with profits slipping and then the little matter of the £250 million profit overstatement. But although Tesco is in the spotlight, there are issues for all of the major retailers right now, as the discounters go from strength to strength and the Big Four's choke hold on the market weakens. Harpers.co.uk spoke to some of the wine trade's key suppliers and ex-buyers to find out their views.

Analysis: how effective has the Crus Bourgeois classification been?

Published: 06 October, 2014

Last week the Alliance des Crus Bourgeois arrived in London for the fifth annual review of the wines deemed worthy to use the Cru Bourgeois seal of approval. Five years into the new incarnation of the classification Heather Dougherty reviews its successes and challenges - and looks at its prospects for the future.

Ports, sherries and fortifieds get ready for Christmas

Published: 03 October, 2014

The tapas craze helped boost sherry sales temporarily but the category is now in decline, and Port is still struggling to shake its fusty and festive image. Gemma McKenna and Erin Smith look at how fortified wines can carve a niche

Lidl part 2: Best value at all costs

Published: 03 October, 2014

When it comes to driving best value at a lower cost there is a lot to learn from the Lidl buying philosophy, says Angela Mount

Lidl: what makes it so successful?

Published: 03 October, 2014

The new "Lidl Surprises" tagline is the latest UK brand-positioning success story from the hard discounter. Gemma McKenna looks at how its buying strategies are now expanding its wine offer

Global wine harvest predictions released by Ciatti

Published: 16 September, 2014

The overall European wine harvest for 2014 looks like being down on last year, according to the latest report from Ciatti, the global grape broking business, but France is set to return to its position as the biggest wine supplier in the world.

How Berlin Tastings Series put Chilean wine on the map

Published: 05 September, 2014

Eduardo Chadwick's pioneering Berlin Series Tastings have helped change global perception of Chilean wine in their 10-year run. Andrew Catchpole, who was at the seminal first event, assesses their impact

Majestic's leading wine buyers set out their strategy and needs from suppliers

Published: 05 September, 2014

In the second of her series of 'Buyer to Buyer' interviews, former Somerfield head wine buyer, Angela Mount, talks to Matt Pym and Chris Hardy of Majestic Wines about their buying strategy and what they are looking for from their suppliers.

How Chile can use its mainstream appeal to grow share of premium wines

Published: 05 September, 2014

Gemma McKenna reports on why Chilean winemakers are shifting focus to a more premium offering

Argentina bucks economic difficulties to compete on international stage

Published: 05 September, 2014

Despite the domestic economic challenges Argentinian producers are facing, UK consumers still can't get enough of their wines. Ahead of the Wines of the Beautiful South tasting Erin Smith analyses the category

Own-label wine is not just for major multiples any longer

Published: 12 August, 2014

Own-label and private-label wines are no longer the preserve of the major multiples, but what is the attraction for independent merchants and restaurants alike?

Bulgaria's Yakata group strives to change the country's wine image

Published: 11 August, 2014

Bulgaria is looking to promote itself as a very different kind of wine-producing country than it was 30 years ago and it seems to be attracting the right level of investment and interest to potentially change its image in the UK wine trade.

Cape Legends is pushing the premium wine boundaries in South Africa

Published: 11 August, 2014

South Africa's wine industry is changing and the premium wine segment is no exception. Harpers.co.uk talks to the leaders who are pushing the boundaries of Distell's premium wine portfolio, Cape Legends.

The Smith Report: Exchange rate is it a friend or foe?

Published: 11 August, 2014

The Smith Report takes a look at the opportunities for wine producers in South Africa, where its currency exchange has proven to be both its best friend and its worst enemy.