Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Australia's Robert Oatley wines to join Hatch Mansfield portfolio

Published: 09 October, 2015

Hatch Mansfield will take on the UK agency for Australia's Robert Oatley Vineyards from January 1.

Interview: Inside the Conviviality supergroup with chief Diana Hunter

Published: 09 October, 2015

Head of Conviviality Diana Hunter talks about the company's reverse takeover of Matthew Clark and what it could mean for the trade.

Glenlivet opts for peated cask finish for latest Nàdurra series release

Published: 07 October, 2015

Pernod Ricard's Glenlivet single malt has launched the third expression of its Nàdurra cask finish range.

Hallgarten unleashes 14 wines from South Africa's 'frontier country'

Published: 07 October, 2015

Hallgarten is listing 14 wines from the Swartland region of South Africa.

Diageo strategy to release non-core assets brings sale of Red Stripe lager stake to Heineken

Published: 07 October, 2015

Diageo has handed over control of Red Stripe lager to Heineken by selling its stake in the Jamaican brand owner Desnoes & Geddes.

Liberty's tip for a successful on-trade Christmas: traditional wines but more expensive bottles

Published: 06 October, 2015

On-trade operators should look to help consumers trade up in classic wine styles to drive sales growth in the pre-Christmas period, according to a report from agency supplier Liberty Wines.

Mikells takes Xerox executive to become its chief financial officer

Published: 06 October, 2015

Diageo has appointed Kathryn Mikells as chief financial officer with effect from November 9, replacing Deirdre Mahlan.

Inver House buoyed by profit rise on back of strong sales for focus whisky brands

Published: 02 October, 2015

Sales of Caorunn gin and Speyburn and Balblair whiskies helped Inver House Distillers post a profit rise of 23% in 2014.

Matthew Clark beefs up premium Italian and Spanish wine ranges as top-end sales surge

Published: 02 October, 2015

Matthew Clark has added 35 premium wines from Italy and Spain to its portfolio in response to a surge in demand from the top-end on-trade.

Absolut puts classics with a twist under spotlight in digital campaign

Published: 30 September, 2015

Absolut vodka is launching a new Taste Perfection brand marketing platform focusing on classic vodka cocktails such as the Bloody Mary and Cosmopolitan.

Brewer points way to Christmas success for the on-trade with series of roadshows

Published: 23 September, 2015

On-trade customers are being offered free staff training and the chance to sample new products at a series of pre-Christmas trade shows being hosted by Carlsberg UK.

Jameson links with craft brewer for limited edition Irish whiskey

Published: 23 September, 2015

An Irish whiskey from casks that have previously held a craft brewer's stout has been launched by Jameson.

Exclusive: Matthew Clark's chief executive 'thrilled' over Conviviality's £200m takeover

Published: 17 September, 2015

Matthew Clark's chief executive officer Steve Thomson told harpers.co.uk in an exclusive interview that he is "thrilled" over the acquisition of Matthew Clark by Conviviality Retail which has created "a group with the widest reach in terms of route to market in the drinks industry".

Diageo embarks on biggest ever marketing campaign for Johnnie Walker Scotch brand

Published: 17 September, 2015

Johnnie Walker has launched what is billed as the largest global marketing campaign in its history.

Tanqueray looks to the past to inspire limited edition Bloomsbury gin launch

Published: 16 September, 2015

Diageo Reserve has introduced a limited edition version of Tanqueray gin based on a 19^th century recipe from the company's archives.

AB-Inbev confirms approach made to Peroni brewer SAB Miller about possible bid

Published: 16 September, 2015

Stella Artois and Budweiser brewer AB-Inbev has confirmed that it has made an approach to UK-based rival SAB Miller about a possible takeover of the company.

Caliterra winemaker tips Malbec to do big things in Chile

Published: 16 September, 2015

A leading Chilean winemaker thinks Malbec could be a grape with a big future in the country.

Italian producer Piccini launches sparkling wine as a competitive alternative to Prosecco

Published: 16 September, 2015

Chianti producer Piccini has launched a sparkling wine made with grapes from Prosecco territory.

Accolade buys Chilean producer Viña Anakena

Published: 15 September, 2015

Accolade Wines claims to be the first company to have a presence in each of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, North America and South America after buying Chilean producer Viña Anakena.