Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Analysing Spain

Published: 09 October, 2024

Andrew Catchpole reports back from the insightful Spain Food Nation Summit session on Spanish wines.

Friday Read: Why the UK should embrace the new labelling rules

Published: 30 August, 2024

Madalena Moreira, oenologist at Encirc, argues there is room for everyone in the UK wine trade to benefit from the post-Brexit bottling rules, and that the changes will not negatively impact sales of quality English sparkling wine.

UK wine and spirit industry boosts economy with £76bn contribution

Published: 10 June, 2024

A recent report by the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has highlighted the substantial economic impact of the UK's wine and spirit industry, which contributed over £76bn to the economy in 2022. This marks a significant increase from the £49bn reported five years ago.

Migration policies must address hospitality sector

Published: 04 June, 2024

Ahead of the 4 July general election, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to reduce the number of migrants each year under a new Conservative government.

Calais Vins partners with P&O Ferries to offer ‘free travel’

Published: 12 April, 2024

French wine retailers Calais Vins and Olivier Vins have partnered with P&O Ferries to offer free ferry crossings across the Channel for British consumers.

Analysis: Pints fail to impress

Published: 19 January, 2024

The government’s decision to allow the use of imperial measures to sell wine has been met with a lukewarm reaction, finds James Bayley.

New wine label reforms take effect

Published: 02 January, 2024

As of yesterday (1 January 2024), several new wine reforms introduced by the government have taken effect, including the removal of importer addresses from wine labels.

Government lauds ‘pint’-sized wine as Brexit benefit

Published: 02 January, 2024

The UK government has permitted the sale of ‘pint’ sized still and sparkling wine across supermarkets, pubs, clubs and restaurants.

Fears grow for watered-down wine following Defra reforms

Published: 18 October, 2023

In what the government describes as a Brexit benefit, imported wine will soon have the option to be blended, carbonated, sweetened, and de-alcoholised in-market.

WSTA welcomes UK label changes

Published: 17 October, 2023

Following a public consultation, the government has set out reforms for the wine sector which will begin in 2024.

Looking Back, Forging Ahead Q&A: Matteo Furlan, The Dorchester London

Published: 14 August, 2023

Mid way through 2023, Harpers is taking stock of yet another turbulent year for the drinks trade, with plenty of highs and lows, so far. We continue our series with Matteo Furlan, head of wines, The Dorchester London, to find out how the year as gone so far, and what the remainder may bring.

Soapbox: Sizing up the bad payers

Published: 18 May, 2023

As financial challenges sweep the trade, one importer voices the fears of many that late payment by accounts is becoming ingrained

Félix Solís Avantis trials QR codes and digital seals for UK exports

Published: 20 April, 2023

In a bid to reduce export times and mitigate “Brexit costs” Spanish wine company Félix Solís Avantis is trialling shipments using blockchain technology.

Wine and spirit businesses welcome the Windsor Framework Agreement

Published: 03 March, 2023

The Windsor Framework Agreement, a system designed to facilitate the movement of goods from GB to Ireland post-Brexit has been welcomed by the UK wine and spirit businesses.

Chronic staff shortages accelerate unprecedented hospitality wage inflation

Published: 30 January, 2023

Average wages for hospitality workers have risen 53% over the past 10 years, according to a new study released by charted accountancy firm Hazlewoods.

Government extends alcohol duty-freeze for six months

Published: 20 December, 2022

The freeze on UK alcohol duty rates has been extended six months to 1 August 2023, the government announced yesterday (19 December 2022).

Nick Gillett: How red tape is paralysing the industry

Published: 20 September, 2022

In the second of our new critical mini-series, Mangrove UK’s MD calls for a serious untangling of post-Brexit red tape.

What next for UK wine labelling scheme?

Published: 05 September, 2022

By the time this feature is published, a new UK wine labelling scheme should be effective. However, according to the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA), the government has signalled its intention to defer the introduction of the forthcoming labelling rules until 1 January, 2024.

Cashing in on premium brand equity

Published: 11 July, 2022

With the cost of living ever increasing, UK consumers might be reconsidering the way they purchase spirits, but premium brands are likely in the best position to weather the storm. Now is the time to make the most of that brand equity, and perhaps take some lessons from challenging economic times of the recent past.

Jerry Lockspeiser: Confused by the economy?

Published: 27 May, 2022

First Brexit, then Covid, and now a major war in Europe. The economic landscape has been knocked from side to side, then up and down, and is now lurching in the most unpredictable fashion. Managing business strategy in these circumstances is extremely tough. If dealing with known unknowns is hard, facing unknown unknowns is extraordinarily challenging.