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

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

Chief of the Week: Cockburn's Vintage Port

OK admittedly it seems strange to bestow our "Chief of the Week" honour on simply a vintage Port house. But then Cockburn's, now safely ensconced in the paternal ownership of Symington Family Estates, is not your average vintage Port company.

Port on course to overtake sherry in the off-trade says Paul Symington

Port is set to overtake sherry in value sales in the off-trade in the next two years if current trends continue, according to Paul Symington, chairman of Symington Family Estates.

Oakley Wine Agencies grows sales by 20% in face of reduced listings in major multiples

Family run Oakley Wine Agencies, which specialises in Portuguese wines, posted 20% growth over the last 12 months despite facing a challenging trading market with supermarkets.

Morrisons' new boss faces a tough challenge say City analysts

Morrison's results were broadly in line with expectations, City analysts agreed - but incoming chief executive David Potts faces a tough year.

Australia's 170 year history of wine unravelled in new academic study

Anyone interested in the Australian wine industry can now access insights in to its 170-year history in a new free academic study that looks at how the country's wine production has developed and what lessons it teaches the wineries and producers today.

UK casual dining sales enjoy 23rd consecutive month of growth

Pubs and restaurant groups saw like-for-like sales edge up 1.6% across the UK, making February the 23rd consecutive month to show growth, according to new figures released by the Coffer Peach Business Tracker figures.

Morrisons posts losses of £792m as 23 convenience stores come into the firing line

Morrisons has posted an annual pre-tax loss of £792m, as total turnover fell 4.9% to £16,816m in the 52 weeks to 1 February 2015.

Pacta Connect to open more East European wine sites following success of Brighton store

Pacta Connect, specialist importers of central and Eastern European wines, is looking to open further retail outlets following the initial success of its first site situated in Brighton's recently renovated Open Market.

Seven of England's leading wineries to fly the flag at ProWein

Seven leading English wine producers will be heading to ProwWein this weekend to help further cement the reputation of home grown wines in the international marketplace.

English winery Ridgeview Wine Estates celebrates 20th anniversary with new branding

Award winning English winery Ridgeview Wine Estates is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a new look across its entire range of English sparkling wines.

Spanish winery Abadia Retuerta returns to UK with Enotria

VIDEO: The stars shined brightly at inaugural Skin Côntact concert for Wine Relief raising £10,000

The wine industry's first ever rock band, Skin Côntact, took the wine trade by storm on Monday night on stage at London's Vinopolis wowing the audience and helping to raise over £10,000 for Wine Relief, the wine trade's initiative for Comic Relief.

Mitchells & Butlers launches its most ambitious apprenticeship scheme

Mitchells & Butlers is backing the National Apprenticeship Week by launching a new scheme that it hopes will help it find its managers of the future.

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.

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.

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.