Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

M&S fourth quarter figures buck retail trends

Published: 02 April, 2015

Marks and Spencer Group fourth quarter financial results were released today showing total UK sales increased 2.7% and food sales increased 3.7%.

BrewDog profits soar 69%

Published: 02 April, 2015

Scottish craft brewer BrewDog saw profits soar 69% during 2014, on the back of strong demand for craft beer.

Oddbins losses halve as turnover in England rises 10%

Published: 31 March, 2015

Oddbins saw turnover increase nearly 10% in England in the last 12 months, as it makes headway towards profitability.

Drambuie saw profits slide in run up to sale

Published: 30 March, 2015

Drambuie saw its profits slide nearly 10%, in the run up to its sale to William Grant & Sons, according to accounts filed at Companies House.

Adnams announced £7m expansion as it celebrates strong year

Published: 25 March, 2015

Adnams has announced a major expansion of its Suffolk brewery and distillery as it celebrates strong sales in 2014.

AG Barr sees profits boosted 10%

Published: 24 March, 2015

Soft drinks manufacturer AG Barr saw a 10% boost to its pre-tax profit to £41.9m, with turnover up 2.7% to £290.9m in the 12 months to 25 January.

Fever-Tree's revenue soars 49%

Published: 23 March, 2015

In its inaugural financial year results as a publicly traded company, Fever-Tree beat analysts expectations and saw revenue grow by 49%.

Sainsbury's sees like-for-like sales down 1.9% in latest quarter

Published: 17 March, 2015

Sainsbury saw like-for-like retail sales fall 1.9% in the ten weeks to 14 March 2015, as it warned that food deflation is here to stay.

Waitrose profits hit by investment and deflation

Published: 12 March, 2015

Waitrose saw operating profits fall 23.4%, on the back of increased investment in operations and amid a deflationary market.

Oakley Wine Agencies grows sales by 20% in face of reduced listings in major multiples

Published: 12 March, 2015

Family run Oakley Wine Agencies, which specialises in Portuguese wines, posted 20% growth over the last 12 months despite facing a challenging trading market with supermarkets.

Morrisons' new boss faces a tough challenge say City analysts

Published: 12 March, 2015

Morrison's results were broadly in line with expectations, City analysts agreed - but incoming chief executive David Potts faces a tough year.

Morrisons posts losses of £792m as 23 convenience stores come into the firing line

Published: 12 March, 2015

Morrisons has posted an annual pre-tax loss of £792m, as total turnover fell 4.9% to £16,816m in the 52 weeks to 1 February 2015.

Gruppo Campari sees sales up but profits hit by acquisitions and poor exchange rate

Published: 10 March, 2015

Italian drinks group Gruppo Campari saw sales rise 2.4% in 2014 - but group net profit fell 13.9% to €43.2m, following one-off costs involved in recent acquisitions and an unfavourable exchange rate.

Brown Forman Q3 rise in profits driven by Jack Daniel's and premium whiskey growth

Published: 05 March, 2015

Brown Forman's reported underlying net sales grew by 5% and operating income increased by 7% for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 ending on January 31, 2015, despite the headwinds of a strengthening US dollar and unfavourable foreign exchange.

Shifting retail landscape likely to benefit independents, Wilson says

Published: 05 March, 2015

Shifts expected in the off-trade over the next 12 months are likely to create a "huge opportunity" for independent merchants, according to Tim Wilson of the Wilson Drinks Report.

Treasury mulls sale of Australian bottling and winery processing facilities

Published: 02 March, 2015

Treasury Wine Estate is considering selling some of its wine processing infrastructure in Australia to free up resources to invest in its brands.

Treasury Wine says progress is being made, despite profits tumbling nearly 60%

Published: 27 February, 2015

Treasury Wine Estates has seen profits tumble nearly 60% - but boss Michael Clarke insists the company is making progress in "resetting" the troubled business.

Sales up 5% at Spanish wine giant Bodegas Torres

Published: 16 February, 2015

Spanish wine giant Bodegas Torres, which also produces wines in Chile and California, has seen its sales grow 5% to €240 million in 2014.

Pernod Ricard celebrates strong UK half-year performance

Published: 12 February, 2015

Pernod Ricard's UK chief says the market is now in "full recovery" as its brands, in particular those at the top end of the scale, outperform the market.

H1 results for Pernod Ricard show stability as Alexandre Ricard steps up as CEO

Published: 12 February, 2015

Sales growth for the first half of the financial year for Pernod Ricard was minimal, but stable, ahead of the announcement of leadership changes at the drinks giant.