Christmas trading: glass half full?

Retailers had to fight hard for their share of mistletoe and wine (and gin) sales this Christmas. Jo Gilbert sorts through the highs and lows.

Joe Fattorini on cues and discounts

JOE FATTORINI

Xmas high-street sales falter but Majestic and Aldi thrive

Despite mixed results from the BWS sector over the Christmas trading period, some retailers were able to buck the trend.

London restaurateurs call for wine duty cut

Click to head sales at Ste Michelle

Wine entrepreneur Peter Click has joined Washington State winery Ste Michelle Wine Estates as vice president of international sales.

Jerry Lockspeiser: The essential Christmas gift for every wine entrepreneur

About twenty years ago I tried to sell a sparkling wine from Italy that was almost unknown in the UK market. We were a significant supplier to the major retailers and worked closely with them on new product development ideas, from lesser known grape varieties, regions and countries, to new styles and packaging for better-known wines. My Italian sparkling wine was from a medium sized organic producer whose wines we had won listings for, but the buyers felt that it was not well known enough in our market and wouldn’t sell. It was, of course, Prosecco.

German wine sales soar at royal wine supplier

Sales of German wines at fine wine merchant Justerini & Brooks have rocketed this year.

Drinks sales rescue on-trade from weak November

Drinks sales in Britain’s pubs helped the on-trade stay in growth in November, latest monthly food-and-drink data from the Coffer Peach Tracker has shown.

Joe Fattorini: Self-sabotage to push trading up

JOE FATTORINI

Haselgrove eyes growth in China and US

Award-winning McLaren Vale winery Haselgrove Wines is set to expand its international distribution with new hires for the Chinese and US markets.

Pinot Grigio - the end of the affair?

Ines Salpico reports on a strategic rethink as sales of Italy’s favourite white experiences a dramatic fall.

DMD aims to take the next step with £500K crowdfunding bid

DMD Ventures, the parent company behind online alcohol retailer 31Dover and on-trade supplier Vanquish, is about to embark on a financial bid to the tune of half a million pounds.

New commercial director role at Mangrove UK

Boutique spirits importer and distributer Mangrove UK has a new head honcho at the helm of the company’s marketing and sales teams.

Joe Fattorini: Selling scarcity tactics

Head of London sales at Fields, Morris & Verdin

Aperol drives global growth for Gruppo Campari

Gruppo Campari has reported strong organic sales growth of 6.9% for the nine months to 30 September.

Entry-level malts lead whisky category to new heights

A raft of innovation has boosted the fortunes and the accessibility of whisk(e)y in the UK, a new report has revealed.

Growth slows at Pernod Ricard

Sales growth at global drinks giant Pernod Ricard has slowed, with first-quarter turnover of €2.483bn revealing underlying growth of just 1.3%, in line with expectations.

On-trade shrugs off Brexit gloom

Like-for-like sales in the on-trade rose 1.2% in September, according to the latest data from the Coffer Peach Business Tracker.

Brandies: unleashing a spirit of adventure

Grape spirits really don’t get a fair deal in UK bars, where even Cognac and Armagnac rarely receive the shelf space or cocktail list presence their global reputations deserve. Grapes are grown and distilled in dozens of other places around the world, but those brandies are largely overlooked as well.

Upping your festive game

Spirits and wine are set to receive a healthy dose of Christmas cheer this festive season – if operators can capitalise on premium trends.