Looking ahead: Robin Copestick, MD, Freixenet Copestick Limited

As the first half of 2019 draws to a close, Harpers asked key trade figures to highlight the current challenges, ongoing trends and opportunities

Retail sales fall for longest period since 2011

Retail sales fell for the third consecutive month in the year to July, marking the longest period of decline since 2011, according to the latest CBI monthly Distributive Trades Survey.

Brexit costs rising across trade, new WSTA report reveals

The UK drinks industry is investing heavily to counter the risk of a no-deal Brexit, a new survey of its members by the WSTA has revealed.

Dip in Aussie imports as Brexit stockpiling comes to an end

Sales of Australian wine in the UK have declined in the past year – partly due to brand-hesitancy surrounding Brexit.

Brexit: Need to know

With speculation still rife as to whether the UK will walk away from the EU with or without a deal, Jo Gilbert sat down with the Wine & Spirit Trade Association’s European & international affairs director, Simon Stannard, to answer some of the pressing questions around the movement of goods.

WSTA strengthens board with two new appointments

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has added to new members to its board as it looks ahead to Brexit.

Romanian group pulls out of LWF as Brexit hits funding

Gin sales almost double in two years

The UK bought a record breaking 73 million bottles of gin last year across the on and off-trade (Nielsen/CGA), with off-trade sales peaking in the run up to Mother's Day.

WSTA welcomes plan for temporary suspension on tariffs in event of 'no deal'

The Wine and Spirits Trade Association (WSTA) has welcomed the plan to temporarily suspend tariffs on wine and spirits under a ‘no deal’ Brexit scenario.

Facing a Brexit hangover

A no-deal Brexit will deliver import chaos and a significant added cost burden to the UK trade. Andrew Catchpole reports

WSTA and LWF reveal results of UK importers Brexit survey

The Wine and Spirits Trade Association (WSTA) has revealed the results of a survey carried out at its recent roundtable, held in partnership with the London Wine Fair (LWF), looking ahead to the potential effects of various Brexit outcomes on the trade.

Post-Brexit trade deals could pressure Government over duty rises

Major New World exporters to the UK could bring pressure to bear on the UK Government over duty rises on wine as part of negotiations over future free trade agreements.

Jerry Lockspeiser: How to win in uncertain times

If we have heard it once we have heard it a thousand times: Business needs clarity to plan.

Q&A: Dean Harper, owner of HarperWells shares his Norwich knowledge

James Lawrence talks Brexit, MUP, millennials and alternative formats with indie Dean Harper of HarperWells

Berkmann announces plan to protect prices as Brexit looms

Berkmann Wine Cellars has revealed its pricing strategy for 2019, which it says includes a “proactive plan to protect customers from potential Brexit fall out".

Deflecting the Brexit bomb

Counting Daphne’s, Scott’s, Sexy Fish, Caprice, the fast-growing Ivy Collection, J. Sheeky and Harry’s Bar among its swish restaurants and watering holes, Caprice Holdings can be seen as something of a barometer for trends sweeping through the premium on-trade. And the same can be said of the drinks offer, which morphs from cool cocktails to fine wines – and everything in between – across the various brands and estates.

WSTA calls for wine tariffs suspension to avoid ‘no deal’ price hikes

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has called on the government to temporarily suspend wine tariffs to prevent prices rocketing in the event of a ‘no deal' Brexit .

Sustainability key to future success, predicts The Change Group

Spotlight on 2020: Doug Wregg, Les Cave de Pyrene

As we prepare for the new decade, Harpers looks back over 2019 and ahead to what the coming year will bring – hopefully full of revived optimism for both politics and the trade.

Looking ahead: Andrew Lundy, MD, Vino

Once again we are catching up with the trade to find out how businesses made the most of the all-important Christmas trading period, while also looking ahead to the challenges and opportunities 2019 will bring.