The Week That Was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have done a review of the top online news, financial news for the drinks trade, Q&As, and opinion stories.

Wines of South Africa ramps up Asian focus

Wines of South Africa is stepping up its marketing efforts in Asia with the opening of a dedicated office in Hong Kong.

Public health experts call for calorie labelling for beers, wines and spirits

The drinks industry faces renewed calls for calorie labelling on drinks, following research which shows strong public backing for the measure and a lack of consumer awareness on how calorific drinks can be.

Jancis Robinson leads roll call of wine personalities at DWCC in Montreux

Jancis Robinson MW leads an international line up of leading wine figures that have descended on Montreux, on the bank of Lake Geneva, for this year's Digital Wine Communications Conference.

Glynn Davis: a postcard from Porto

Glynn Davis sends us a postcard from Porto, where he finds out what else is on offer besides the fortified wine. 

Trade reacts to the Bibendum PLB merger

Rival suppliers and potential customers of the new Bibendum PLB group have been unsurprised by the news of the merger, given tough market conditions, with most saying further consolidation in the supply chain is on the cards.

Majestic asks suppliers to 'support' new warehouse with discounts

Majestic has asked some of its suppliers to contribute a 4p per bottle retrospective payment to help fund its new warehouse in Hemel Hempstead, Harpers understands.

Bibendum acquires PLB to create 'UK's most powerful independent' drinks supplier

Bibendum, one of the UK's largest wine and spirits distributors has acquired major rival, PLB, for an undisclosed sum and is merging both businesses, as of today, October 29, into the Bibendum PLB Group, Harpers.co.uk can reveal.

Analysis: The new Bibendum PLB supergroup

Bibendum's acquisition of UK drinks rival PLB and the merger of both businesses has created a supergroup, complete with five divisions, catering to the on and off-trades, independents, specialist beer and spirits and events sectors.

TWE focuses on travel retail's $1 billion growth opportunity in wine

Treasury Wine Estates has identified a $1 billion opportunity to grow wine sales in the global travel retail sector and has strengthened its travel retail sales team to capitalise on the potential growth.

Austria claims new sparkling wine standards rival Champagne

Austria has introduced new quality standards for its sparkling wines, which it claims puts it on a par with Champagne and Franciacorta.

International Wine Challenge's first tranche entries close in two days

The International Wine Challenge 2015 first tranche online submission window will be closing in two days on October 30, 2014.

Chile's Casillero del Diablo enters UK's Top 10 wine brands for first time

Chilean wine giant Concha y Toro's Casillero del Diablo has entered the UK's Top 10 wine brand for the first time as sales have grown 35% year on year.

Treasury and Mast- Jägermeister join Portman Group

OIV confirms France as world's top wine producing country

The International Organisation of Vine and Wine has confirmed France is once again the world's biggest wine producing country, knocking Italy out of the top spot.

Can supermarkets handle Britain's changing shopping habits?

Professor Heiner Evanschitzky of Aston Business School asks whether the supermarkets handle Britain's changing shopping habits.

Minimum pricing still on agenda with Public Health England

Minimum pricing could be back on the UK government's agenda sooner than expected, as Public Health England vows to keep pushing for the measure in the next 18 months.

Burgundy's School of Wine & Spirits Business enrolment rises 30%

Burgundy School of Business's recently launched School of Wine & Spirits Business (SWBS) saw the number of students rise by 30% to nearly 140 students for the 2014-2015 academic year.

TescoGate: suppliers should complain to Groceries Code adjudicator

A leading wine trade lawyer has called on suppliers who feel they have been badly treated by Tesco or any other supermarket, to complain to the Groceries Supply Code adjudicator.

Angela Mount: What's the impact on BWS of Tesco's missing strategy?

Ex-Somerfield head of wine Angela Mount questions the impact on BWS of the lack of a long-term strategy at Tesco, as the retailer struggles to manage the consequences of its financial scandal.