Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

NZW announces “outstanding” vintage but smaller than expected crop

Published: 26 June, 2020

New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW) has declared the 2020 vintage “outstanding” despite adverse Covid-19 conditions.

Majestic announces reopening

Published: 25 June, 2020

Majestic has announced that, bar "a handful" of stores, its 200-strong estate of retail stores will reopen for business tomorrow (Friday).

BBR confirms far reaching 'review' of troubled FMV

Published: 25 June, 2020

Berry Bros. & Rudd has confirmed that it is “reviewing” its Fields, Morris & Verdin (FMV) wholesale arm, with staff consultation ongoing, with the impact of the Covid-19 crisis almost certainly meaning that the business will not continue in its current shape or form.

Top Selection goes direct to consumer with online launch

Published: 25 June, 2020

Importer Top Selection has officially launched 9 Elms Wines, a new online wine and spirits retail arm, aimed at giving consumers direct access to “boutique wines” that the company said would “normally only be available to restaurants and specialist retailers”.

Cork Supply comes close to eliminating TCA

Published: 25 June, 2020

Portuguese closure manufacturer Cork Supply has unveiled new TCA extraction technology that it claims can achieve a success rate of 99.85% in eliminating the risk of cork taint in cork-sealed wines.

FMV in consultation with staff over future of business

Published: 24 June, 2020

Fields, Morris & Verdin (FMV) is understood to be in consultation with its staff over the future of the company.

New Wines of Portugal president outlines key priorities

Published: 24 June, 2020

New Wines of Portugal president Frederico Falcão has pointed out his priorities for his three-year mandate.

Chaîne des Rôtisseurs 2020 award winners to be announced in November

Published: 23 June, 2020

Winners of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs GB Young Chef and Young Sommelier 2020 competitions will be announced at an awards dinner on 20 November.

BWS sales through grocers continue to boom

Published: 23 June, 2020

Alcohol sales through grocery stores continued to boom in the past four weeks, up 43% year-on-year, as the on-trade stayed shuttered.

Research confirms protracted on-trade recovery

Published: 22 June, 2020

A new survey of UK Hospitality (UKH) members has confirmed that hospitality businesses are expecting a lengthy and painful recovery, with levels of trade expected to be significantly supressed for many months to come.

Bourgogne less impacted by Covid-19 than feared

Published: 19 June, 2020

The Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) has recorded an overall dip in exports of 1.8% by volume for the first four months of 2020.

Ehrmanns pours Beefsteak into cans

Published: 19 June, 2020

Ehrmanns Wines has launched its Beefsteak Club Mendoza Malbec in 250ml can format (rrp: £2.99).

‘Distancing’ most important to on-trade guests post-lockdown

Published: 19 June, 2020

Having social distancing measures in place has been revealed to be the key concern for consumers when they return to the on-trade post-lockdown, according to new research released by Hallgarten & Novum Wines today.

Waitrose expands English portfolio in a nod to English Wine Week

Published: 18 June, 2020

Waitrose is celebrating English Wine Week (20- 28 June) by launching five new and exclusive homegrown wines.

Matthew Clark pitches on-trade with account-free ‘guest checkout’ on ecommerce platform

Published: 17 June, 2020

Matthew Clark has opened out its ecommerce platform to enable new on-trade customers to order up to £1,500 without opening an account or requiring a minimum order.

NZW calls on UK to come with “fresh attitude” as trade negotiations begin

Published: 17 June, 2020

New Zealand’s wine sector has “warmly welcomed” the announcement that it is to begin trade negotiations with the UK, calling on Britain to come with a “fresh attitude”.

Volume uplift in US off-trade offsets on-trade sales drop

Published: 16 June, 2020

US wine volume sales look set to be flat in 2020 with the Covid-19 led surge in off-trade sales balancing out the drop in on-trade sales, according to new Wine Intelligence research.

“Smallest vintage in living memory” delights Oz winemakers, if not accountants

Published: 16 June, 2020

Off the back of a “rollercoaster ride”, variously involving frosts, drought, heatwaves, horrendous bush fires and finally the disruption of Covid-19, Australia’s 2020 vintage is expected to produce some “sensational wines” from a very low yielding crush.

Majestic appoints performance marketing agency to drive revenue

Published: 16 June, 2020

Majestic Wine has appointed a performance marketing agency to help drive revenue across its website and network of 192 stores.

EeBriaTrade adds English wines

Published: 16 June, 2020

Drinks distributor and online marketplace EeBriaTrade has added a raft of English wine producers to its portfolio, marking the first time the online business has featured wine.