Spotlight on 2020: Michael Saunders, Bibendum Wine

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

Diageo buys Tipplesworth to drive cocktails ‘on tap’ growth

Diageo has acquired pre-mix cocktail specialist Tipplesworth for an undisclosed sum.

Mixing politics and wine

What attracted me to wine journalism nine years ago was that the stories were about the wine and the people, not cocaine-fuelled celebrity mishaps or sexual exploits involving a reverse osmosis machine. The beauty of wine was that, by and large, there was no 'news.'

Jerry Lockspeiser: How should the wine trade vote on 12 December?

Running west along London’s Southbank on the section after the London Eye, with the Houses of Parliament to the right across the River Thames and just before Lambeth bridge, I came across a red van selling hot drinks. The side of the van was emblazoned with the words SINGLE ORIGIN HOT CHOCOLATE.

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.

On nailing the Christmas trade-up

Upselling has always been the name of the game at Christmas. But is there more the on- and off-trade can do? James Lawrence reports

At the 11th hour, how will a no-deal Brexit affect the wine trade?

As the UK fruit and vegetable harvest gets into full swing in the looming shadow of Brexit, headlines such as The Guardian’s ‘Tonnes of crops left to rot as farms struggle to recruit EU workers’ are becoming commonplace.

Berkmann hedges against Brexit Christmas chaos

UK distributor Berkmann Wine Cellars has invested £5m in increased stocks and storage capacity at bond in the run-up to Christmas.

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.

New Israeli listing for Oddbins

Israeli wine Dalton Canaan Red 2018 has won its first listing at Oddbins in the UK.

Championing Chile

There have been plenty of emerging highlights, but Chile stills needs to push its premium offerings says Andrew Catchpole.

Mark Jarvis opens at Trade members club

Mark Jarvis of Holborn’s Anglo restaurant is to start a residency at Trade, the Soho-based members’ club for the hospitality industry.

Looking ahead: Doug Wregg, Les Cave de Pyrene

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

Looking ahead: Mark Roberts, Lanchester Wines

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

Looking ahead: Ade McKeon, Accolade Wines

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

More segmentation around Christmas needed as trading up accelerates

Pernod Ricard is encouraging retailers and on-trade operators to think about Christmas in a series of moments and occasions that run throughout October, November and December, with different opportunities at different points through the three-month period.

Two to three big Christmases left for gin amid premium spirits boom

Pernod Ricard is banking on another big hurrah for gin growth this festive season, with its on-going popularity and major presence in the UK’s cocktail culture helping to boost growth of premium spirits.

Looking ahead: David Gleave, Liberty Wines

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

Bancroft beefs up fine wine team with Snoxell hire

James Snoxell has joined London-based supplier Bancroft Wines as its new fine wine buyer, the company has announced.

Wine Paris sets its stall for a second successful year