Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Low & no: The twist to modern drinking

Published: 09 September, 2024

Ten years on from the founding of both Club Soda and Seedlip, Jo Gilbert takes the temperature of the game-changing low & no category.

Guy Woodward: Why all producers should consider 0% abv wines

Published: 14 May, 2024

It has, I admit, taken me rather a long time to take 0% alcohol wines seriously. I’ve long been sceptical about their quality. But I’ve finally got my head around their importance. Why? Because I’ve managed to navigate that key stumbling block that trips up many a middle-aged man – the fact that I am not the target market.

Multiples: Green moves on Aldi wine aisle

Published: 11 April, 2024

James Bayley talks us through Aldi’s new paper wine bottles and how the move could revolutionise supermarket drinks packaging.

Club Soda calls for government clarity on low abv drinks

Published: 08 April, 2024

Pro-moderation campaign group Club Soda believes there is an opportunity for growth in low-alcohol drinks, though it is currently being masked by alcohol-free sales and a lack of clarity on what exactly constitutes a low-abv serve.

‘More interest in low and no than sales’ Club Soda report finds

Published: 26 June, 2023

Club Soda has teamed up with market research agency The Mix Global to launch the industry report ‘Free Spirited: Demystifying the audiences of alcohol-free’.

LWF reveals 'mini preview' ahead of May opening

Published: 25 April, 2023

Held between 15-17 May at the London Olympia, the London Wine Fair (LWF) has revealed a preview of what attendees might expect from the UK’s largest drinks industry exhibition.

Britain’s new low & no HQ

Published: 26 February, 2023

Jo Gilbert went along to Club Soda’s permanent bar/shop in Covent Garden to test out an innovative new concept.

Analysis: Tougher ad guidelines

Published: 13 February, 2023

For a long time, alcohol’s advertising regulations have been clear. Led by the CAP and BCAP codes for broadcast and non-broadcast media, ASA rulings and the Portman Group’s Code of Conduct, advertising of licensed and age-restricted products in the UK should not incite people to adopt styles of drinking that are unwise, target under 18s or encourage excessive drinking. Ads cannot be portrayed as mood boosting or therapeutic, either – something Brewdog discovered when it tried to market its hard seltzer cans with a wink and a nod to industry watchdogs.

The evolution of adult soft drinks

Published: 17 June, 2022

The past five years have been busy for the soft drinks sector in the UK. Producers have had to navigate the introduction of the sugar tax, changes in drinking habits triggered by the pandemic, and now hefty price hikes across multiple food and drink categories. The adult soft drinks sector sits at the premium end of the total soft drinks category, and this is where you can find beverages made from unique ingredients and botanicals, with bold logos and artistic artwork. It’s a fun and luxurious part of the sector, but can it survive the current cost-of-living crisis?