Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Online uplift to grow

Published: 23 December, 2021

Ecommerce is to remain a key driver of value growth in global alcoholic drinks markets, with wine to the fore. Andrew Catchpole reports.

Hospitality underwhelmed by Chancellor's £1bn rescue package

Published: 22 December, 2021

Businesses are split in their response to the Treasury's £1 billion support package, with enthusiasm from some quarters, while others have claimed that the amount “borders on insulting”.

Bouncing Back Q&A: Matt Tipping, CEO, Jeroboams

Published: 22 December, 2021

Matt Tipping reflects on keeping the wheels turning through 2021 and how valuable new custom should bring cheer into the new year, despite the looming additional tax burden on wine.

With supply and delivery issues forcing indies to be nimble and imaginative for the Christmas rush, Andrew Catchpole asked a trio of merchants how they prepared for the festive sales spike in such an unpredictable year.

Sunak announces new relief for hospitality sector

Published: 21 December, 2021

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a further round of grants of up to £6,000 per hospitality premise, also committing to a top up of discretionary grant funding, as part of a £1 billion package to support the sector.

Freixenet delivers record Cava sales

Published: 21 December, 2021

Spanish giant Freixenet has posted record Cava sales in 2021, retailing more than 100 million bottles worldwide for the first time ever in the firm's 150-year history.

Devolved regions to receive emergency on-trade funding, while concern grows in England

Published: 20 December, 2021

Scotland and Wales are to receive additional funding from Westminster to help struggling businesses cope with new Covid restrictions, as England awaits news on further restrictive measures.

Champagne Castelnau and Nicolas Feuillatte finalise merger deal

Published: 17 December, 2021

Two of Champagne’s most important cooperatives reached an historic agreement this week, creating a powerful new stakeholder in the region.

Scotland announces DRS implementation date

Published: 15 December, 2021

Scotland's Minister for green skills, circular economy and biodiversity has confirmed that the nation's inaugural Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will launch next year.

31 Dover rebrands as SPIRIT.ED

Published: 07 December, 2021

Premium drinks company 31 Dover has changed its trading name to SPIRIT.ED.

Boparan group achieves carbon neutral certification

Published: 07 December, 2021

Every brand owned and operated by the Boparan Restaurant Group has been certified as carbon neutral by Carbon Neutral Britain, after offsetting all their direct emissions.

Bonterra achieves 'Climate Neutral' certification for its entire business

Published: 30 November, 2021

Californian brand Bonterra has laid claim to being the world's first organically-farmed, climate neutral certified wine.

'OIV must embrace the digital revolution to stay relevant’

Published: 26 November, 2021

The director general of the OIV has called upon the global wine industry to more quickly embrace the opportunities afforded by new technologies, in order to stay relevant in a fiercely competitive world.

Calorie labelling on alcoholic drinks gains pace

Published: 25 November, 2021

The latest market review released by the Portman Group has shown that almost half (47%) of alcoholic drinks sold in the UK now feature calorie information on labels, despite no legal requirement to do so.

Scotland delays implementation of Deposit Return Scheme

Published: 18 November, 2021

A perfect storm of Covid-19, Brexit and a struggling hospitality sector has delayed the introduction of Scotland's inaugural DRS scheme, according to Scottish Minister Lorna Slater.

Hospitality Rising launches recruitment campaign

Published: 18 November, 2021

Hospitality Rising, a collaborative movement dedicated to increasing recruitment levels in the industry, is aiming to raise £5m by running “the biggest hospitality recruitment advertising campaign the world has ever seen”.

Demand for NZ wine continues to grow as supply is squeezed

Published: 10 November, 2021

International demand for New Zealand wine continues to grow as export value reached $599M in the first quarter of the new export year, up 9% on the previous year.

Viña Concha y Toro sees profit increase despite global logistics crisis

Published: 08 November, 2021

Chilean producer Viña Concha y Toro's profits increased by 15% in the third quarter boosted by a better product mix, increases in its domestic market and real estate income which partially offset the global logistics crisis that affected shipments.

Leading producers call for greater industry action over climate change

Published: 04 November, 2021

Twenty-two CEOs and senior leaders of International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA) have written an open letter to all CEO’s in the wine industry calling on them to begin working towards net zero emissions by 2050.

The Drinks Trust launches industry survey in the wake of the pandemic

Published: 04 November, 2021

The Drinks Trust has launched a new survey for 2021, which is seeking to establish how members of the hospitality and drinks industry are feeling in the wake of the Covid pandemic.