Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

M&S signs deal to bottle New World wines at Kingsland

Published: 12 February, 2015

Marks & Spencer will use a UK firm for the first time for its New World bulk wine bottling, after striking a deal with Manchester's Kingsland.

London's premium on-trade wine market growing 18% per year

Published: 12 February, 2015

The market for top wines is growing at a rate of 18.4% by value in London restaurants, against a backdrop of declining wine sales in the on-trade overall, down 9.3% by value for the year to July 2014.

Cold weather fails to dampen eating out sales in January

Published: 12 February, 2015

Restaurants and managed pubs saw like-for-like sales grow 1.4% in January, despite the snow and cold weather.

Flint Wines takes on Tim Mondavi's Napa estate Continuum

Published: 11 February, 2015

Flint Wines has expanded its US wine selection by becoming the exclusive UK agent for Tim Mondavi's Napa estate, Continuum.

England and New Zealand's sparkling wines clash ahead of Cricket World Cup

Published: 11 February, 2015

The doyens of the English and New Zealand sparkling wine industry are ratcheting up the competition ahead of the Cricket World Cup with a blind taste off.

Senior industry figures toast positive reception from Treasury over proposed 2% duty cut

Published: 11 February, 2015

Senior representatives from the drinks industry met with Treasury officials yesterday to present evidence in support of the proposed 2% duty cut on alcohol, describing the discussions as "constructive".

California's 2014 grape crush shows 'healthy decline' but won't stop bulk prices sliding

Published: 11 February, 2015

California's grape crush for 2014 hit 3.91 million tonnes, showing a "healthy decline" of 340,000 tonnes on the previous year, however the "ample inventories" of 2012 and 2013 means finding buyers for wine will be a challenge.

Virgin Wines sees festive sales boost of £10m

Published: 10 February, 2015

Online wine retailer Virgin Wines saw like-for-like sales jump 20% over the festive period, accounting for an extra £10 million - driven by a stellar performance from fizz.

French bag-in-box only retailer BiBoViNo seeks UK franchisees

Published: 10 February, 2015

French bag-in-box only wine retailer BiBoViNo is actively seeking UK franchisees to expand its 10-strong estate internationally.

Q&A: BiBoViNo's Frantz Roesch on why BIB wine is going upmarket

Published: 10 February, 2015

Frantz Roesch, founder of French bag-in-box retail concept BiBoViNo, reveals his plans for UK expansion, high profile backers and why it will focus on old world wines only.

Red Squirrel Wines behind new trade initiative to promote Bulgarian wines

Published: 10 February, 2015

Independent wine merchant, Red Squirrel Wines, is behind a new initiative to put the spotlight on wines from Bulgaria with four days of events in March including a trade tasting at the Bulgarian Embassy on March 18.

WSTA meets Treasury to call for 2% alcohol duty cut

Published: 10 February, 2015

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association is today meeting with the Treasury to present its 2015 Budget submission calling for a 2% cut in wine and spirits duty.

Drinks producers and retailers 'get personal' for Valentine's Day

Published: 09 February, 2015

Wine and spirits retailers and producers are looking to cash in on love this Valentine's Day with a host of personalised and quirky products alongside the more straightforward deals.

US 'most attractive' market for premium wine producers, says Rabobank

Published: 09 February, 2015

The United States is the "most attractive major market" for producers targeting premium wine sales, says the latest report from Rabobank.

California's bumper 2014 harvest means overstock on bulk wine, broker warns

Published: 09 February, 2015

California produced a "shed-load" of wine - 4 million tonnes - in the chronic drought conditions of 2014, which will lead to an inventory surplus, a top bulk broker has warned.

Portugal's wine community Adegga ramps up digital marketing services for producers

Published: 09 February, 2015

Portuguese online wine community Adegga is boosting its digital services by offering producers a shared wine marketing and sales platform.

UK's first Sake brewery and visitor centre to open in Cambridgeshire

Published: 06 February, 2015

Dojima, a Japanese brewery based in Osaka, which was founded over 600 years ago has established a company in the UK and plans to start producing premium sake on U.K soil this year.

Portman Group hits back against 'misleading' calls for alcohol advertising ban

Published: 05 February, 2015

The Portman Group has branded research from Alcohol Concern which calls for restrictions on alcohol advertising and sponsorship "weak and misleading".

Conviviality on track to open 20 more stores by April

Published: 05 February, 2015

Bargain Booze owner Conviviality Retail is planning to open a further 20 stores by April, and is targeting the south west for expansion.

Felix Solis UK toasts sales rise of 28% in first year as standalone firm

Published: 04 February, 2015

The UK arm of Spanish wine company Felix Solis is toasting a cracking first year as a standalone company as its sales have soared 28% in the last 12 months.