Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Friday Read: Why luxury drinks need to change tack

Published: 01 December, 2023

Chris Jeffreys, creative director at Love agency, argues there’s no room for complacency with high-end brands in this era of high inflation.

Friday Read: Chasing millennials – a moribund or redefined art?

Published: 15 May, 2020

For as long as I can remember, the wine industry has been coveting youth. Generic bodies have been at the forefront of this rush to connect with Gen Y. The CIVB, Inter Rhône and InterLoire have all invested significant resources into campaigns targeted at millennials.

Generics respond to the pandemic: Wines of Chile

Published: 21 April, 2020

In the third of a series focusing on responses of the generic bodies to the current crisis, we talk to Anita Jackson, UK director, Wines of Chile

#HotCraftSpirits campaign to partner with online drinks retailer 31Dover.com

Published: 01 April, 2016

Specialist online drinks retailer 31Dover.com has partnered with Twitter campaign #HotCraftSpirits, which is seeking to identify the most popular craft spirit brands in the UK.

WSTA collects prestigious campaign award for Drop The Duty

Published: 11 December, 2015

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association has won the Trade Body Campaign of the Year award for its Drop The Duty campaign at the 2015 Public Affairs Awards.

Online wine auction raises £10k for The Benevolent

Published: 05 June, 2015

Online wine auction GrapePip has handed over a cheque for £10K to the UK drinks industry charity, The Benevolent.

Duty cuts last year benefited consumers and helped stem volume decline, WSTA claims

Published: 26 March, 2015

Last year's duty cuts have benefited consumers and helped halt volume sales declines, the latest research from the WSTA has found.

Budget 2015: Drinks industry waits with bated breath

Published: 18 March, 2015

As the Chancellor prepares to deliver his last pre-election Budget to the House of Commons today, the drinks industry waits nervously to find out if this year's campaign has persuaded him to Drop the Duty!

Drop the Duty!: WSTA thanks industry for support as it waits for Budget Day

Published: 16 March, 2015

Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association has commended the drinks industry for uniting behind the WSTA's Drop the Duty campaign and producing a compelling case for a 2% cut in duty.

SWA ramps up call to cut duty as domestic sales of whisky fall

Published: 13 March, 2015

Domestic sales of whisky have fallen nearly 5% in the last year, according to new figures from the Scotch Whisky Association.

Artisan gin producers throw weight behind WSTA campaign

Published: 09 March, 2015

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

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

Published: 09 March, 2015

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.

Independents join forces and debate key issues at Harpers business conference

Published: 04 March, 2015

Independent wine merchants gathered in London yesterday at a conference organised by Harpers Wine & Spirit which put the spotlight firmly on the big issues facing the sector.

Harpers independents' poll reveals growing split between performance of UK wine merchants

Published: 03 March, 2015

There is a growing split between the scale, performance and growth of the country's independent wine merchants, according to an exclusive poll conducted for Harpers March for the Independents conference being held today in London.

Merchants across the country gather for Harpers March for the Independents conference

Published: 02 March, 2015

Independent wine merchants from across the UK will be heading to London tomorrow for Harpers March for the Independents conference offering business insights, advice and the chance to network with fellow retailers.

Doctors call for the duty escalator to be reintroduced

Published: 26 February, 2015

Doctors and alcohol charities are calling on the government to reinstate the alcohol duty escalator in the Budget in March.

March for Indies: 10 ways to boost sales and business through Twitter

Published: 25 February, 2015

Twittter is no longer just a way to communicate, keep in touch and build your audience, it can also really help to drive sales and bring new and existing customers to your business.

March for Independents: Action Week 4 offers data and insights to help drive profits

Published: 23 February, 2015

As we enter the final Action Week of the March for the Independents campaign we turn the spotlight on the market trends, insights and data that will help independent wine merchants ensure they have the rights wines and spirits on shelf at the right price.

March for Independents: 13 ways for retailers to keep on top of business law

Published: 20 February, 2015

Stephen Forward of the independent wine merchant business, Essentially Wine, gives a personal insight into how retailers like himself get on top of all the small business regulation.

Wine and spirits companies urged to tweet out their support for a Drop in Duty

Published: 20 February, 2015

Today Harpers is repeating its call to all wine and spirits producers around the globe that are frustrated by the high alcohol duty levels in the UK to put their name and voice behind the industry's Drop the Duty campaign and raise the issue with the Chancellor, George Osborne.