Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Aldi searches for consumer wine tasting panel on Twitter

Published: 23 May, 2014

Aldi has turned to Twitter to track down "aspiring wine connoisseurs" to form a consumer tasting panel for the retailer.

Marks & Spencer's head of wine Andrew Bird takes role at Woolworths South Africa

Published: 23 May, 2014

Marks & Spencer's wine boss and head of trading Andrew Bird is leaving his role next month to take up a two-year post at Woolworths of South Africa.

Morrisons to offer bespoke wine range at convenience stores

Published: 22 May, 2014

Morrisons is making major changes to its wine offering throughout its expanding convenience arm.

Morrisons to deliver chilled wine direct to customers' doors

Published: 21 May, 2014

Morrisons is to deliver chilled wine direct to consumers' doors as part of changes being made to its online business.

Sunday Times Rich List reveals wealthiest families in the wine and spirit trade

Published: 19 May, 2014

Laithwaite's owners Tony and Barbara Laithwaite saw their personal wealth increase by £23 million to £148 million in 2014, after a £60 million decline last year, according to the Sunday Times Rich List 2014.

The week that was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

Published: 16 May, 2014

In case you missed some of the headlines this week (and a bit of last week due to the long weekend) on harpers.co.uk, we have done a review of the top online news, Q&As, and opinion stories.

Tesco to share consumer insights at the Harpers Debate at London Wine Fair

Published: 16 May, 2014

Tesco is to share some of its consumer insights and how it actively works with its customers to generate feedback, debate and help drive its wine and spirits strategy at the Harpers debate at the London Wine Fair.

M&S to offer cachaça and four new Brazilian wines in time for the World Cup

Published: 15 May, 2014

Marks & Spencer's stores across the UK will now offer Abelha Organic Silver Cachaça, a key ingredient in Brazil's national drink the Caipirinha, as well as rolling out four new Brazilian wine this month just ahead of the World Cup.

IWC 2014: Supermarket own brand wines take 8 of 13 Great Value Trophies

Published: 14 May, 2014

Supermarket own brand wines have taken home eight out of 13 trophies for great value wines at the International Wine Challenge 2014.

Consumer spending on the rise but discounters still winning, says Barclaycard

Published: 12 May, 2014

There are signs that UK consumers are also enjoying the benefits of an economic recovery with the latest spending figures showing a near 4% year-on-year increase in April thanks largely to the later Easter holidays and warmest April weather for three years. The on-trade enjoyed a very strong month with spending in restaurants up 16.8% year-on-year.

Harpers London Wine Fair debate: how consumers can power growth in your business

Published: 09 May, 2014

How major brands and retailers are succeeding in making their customers their biggest business assets through peer to peer recommendations, social media, online clubs and communities will be the focus of the Harpers Debate at this year's London Wine Fair.

Oddbins launches own range of craft beers

Published: 08 May, 2014

Oddbins is to launch its own range of craft beers as it looks to build its brand and capitalise on the growing craft beer movement.

Waitrose to grow online wine share with new website

Published: 08 May, 2014

Waitrose plans to grow its online wine share with the launch of a specialist site Waitrose Cellar.

German wine Black Tower partners with romcom film Walking on Sunshine

Published: 08 May, 2014

German wine brand Black Tower is getting behind British summer romantic comedy Walking on Sunshine.

Morrisons puts faith in further price cuts after another fall in sales

Published: 08 May, 2014

Morrisons like for like sales have declined by 7.1% in the first quarter, as the supermarket hopes its promised price cuts and revamped stores will sway consumers in its direction.

Morrisons shelves standalone wine site Morrisons Cellar

Published: 07 May, 2014

Supermarket Morrisons has decided to pull away from running its own standalone wine retail website and instead combine it with its new general grocery website, Morrisons.com.

Conviviality Retail predicts full-year earnings to beat expectations

Published: 07 May, 2014

Franchised off-licence group Conviviality Retail forecasts full year earnings to be slightly ahead of expectations despite flat sales at Bargain Booze for the 52 weeks to April 27.

Proof of age scheme PASS launches new identity card

Published: 06 May, 2014

Proof of Age scheme PASS is launching a new-look card on June 10 which will standardise designs and make recognition easier for retailers.

Bottle Green poaches national account manager from Australian Vintage

Published: 06 May, 2014

Wine importer and distributor Bottle Green as appointed Russell Smith to senior national account manager, with responsibility for two national off-trade customers.