Maxxium promotes Mark Riley from head of off-trade to group's managing director

Spirit distributor Maxxium UK has named Mark Riley as its new managing director, who will take up the role next month.

Gruppo Campari sees sales up but profits hit by acquisitions and poor exchange rate

Italian drinks group Gruppo Campari saw sales rise 2.4% in 2014 - but group net profit fell 13.9% to €43.2m, following one-off costs involved in recent acquisitions and an unfavourable exchange rate.

Independents winning battle against shop crime but alcohol still a major target for thieves

Investing in crime prevention measures like CCTV has seen the number of independent retailers that have been victims of shop theft fall from 91% in 2012 to 74% in 2014, but alcohol still remains one of the major problem areas, according to new figures.

New Zealand wine exports up, as premium grows in the UK

New Zealand's wine industry has seen exports grow 8.2% in the last year, hitting a record NZ$1.37 billion.

Supermarkets lose £400m in sales as price deflation gives further savings to consumers

Supermarkets are missing out on £400 million in sales as price deflation continues to pick up pace offering further savings to consumers, according to latest figures from Kantar Worldpanel.

Ocado bucks retail trends with first quarter sales growth of nearly 20%

Ocado saw sales jump 19.2% to £271.1m in the 12 weeks ending on February 22, 2015 compared to the same period last year - despite the average basket size declining by 2.4%.

Japanese sake producers reflect on four years of recovery to mark earthquake anniversary

Four years since the earthquake and tsunami wreaked havoc across Japan, Anna Greenhous looks at how sake producers, some of whom were wiped out at the time, have rebuilt their industry and how sake has become a symbol for regeneration and hope in the country.

Invivo looks to raise close to £1m in first New Zealand wine crowdfunding venture

Invivo claims it will be the first New Zealand winery to launch an equity crowdfunding offer as it hopes to raise a maximum $2million NZD (just under £1 million) with the help of shareholders, including UK chat show host, Graham Norton, to spearhead its future growth.

Villa Maria launches lighter alcohol wine range

New Zealand winery Villa Maria is set to launch a lower abv wine range into the UK off-trade.

Artisan gin producers throw weight behind WSTA campaign

Artisan gin distillers have joined the Wine and Spirit Trade Association's campaign calling for a 2% cut in alcohol duty.

Smith & Wollensky hires Boisdale's Nathan Evans to spearhead its London launch

Nathan Evans has been recruited from the Boisdale Group to help oversee the launch of the famous US steakhouse chain, Smith & Wollensky in to the UK

Oddbins opens first standalone beer shop

Portuguese wine exports up 10% in UK says ViniPortugal

Portuguese wine exports to the UK rose 10% by volume in 2014, according to the latest figures from ViniPortugal. Values were also up 23%, it said.

Spain and Argentina are the two big winners in the UK on-trade says new report

Spain and Argentina were the two big winners in the UK on-trade last year, according to the latest Wine On-Premise report from Wine Business Solutions.

Leading Labour MP calls on Chancellor to cut "shocking" duty levels in Budget

Leading front bench MP Sadiq Khan has followed up a Harpers request to lobby the Chancellor for a 2% cut in alcohol duty for wine and spirits and back the Wine & Spirit Trade Association-led Drop the Duty campaign.  

2015 London Wine Fair will be the "most diverse" ever promises show organisers

This year's London Wine Fair will be the most diverse in its 35 year history, according to show director Ross Carter.

ProWein Preview: The Brits are coming!

Downtown Düsseldorf will be the place to be this March as ProWein opens its doors to hordes of international buyers - with the Brits increasingly first in the queue. Here is what you can expect for arguably the largest drinks tradeshow in the world.

Pernod Ricard's Denis O'Flynn urges senior industry figures to sign up and back WSTA

More senior businesses and figures in the UK wine and spirits industry need to get behind the work of the Wine & Spirit Trade Association to try and protects its future growth, according to Denis O'Flynn, managing director of Pernod Ricard UK, and the trade body's new chairman.

Bordeaux's last chance to transform "out of touch" en primeur system says Tim Atkin

Leading UK wine critic and Harpers columnist, Tim Atkin MW, has fired a warning shot across the bows of Bordeaux and warned its producers and chateaux that they need to listen to the international critricism of its en primeur system and make serious changes or risk looking "ridiculous" in the eyes of the wine world.

Chiefs of the Week: the UK's independent wine merchants

For over the last month Harpers has been celebrating and putting the spotlight on the work independent wine merchants do and the growing importance they have on the drinks industry as part of our March for the Independents campaign.