Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Constellation buys Meiomi luxury Pinot Noir brand as Q1 sales increase by 7%

Published: 02 July, 2015

Constellation Brands is to pay US$315 million to add the premium California wine brand Meiomi to its portfolio.

Still wines score big in UKVA's annual awards for English wines

Published: 02 July, 2015

Still wines have picked up nine of the 13 trophies in this year's English & Welsh Wine of the Year competition, organised by the UK Vineyards Association.

Write-down of Brugal rum value puts dent in Edrington figures

Published: 30 June, 2015

Famous Grouse producer Edrington has written down the value of its Brugal rum brand to reflect revised future expectations of the brand's performance.

Bancroft sets out expansion strategy as it chalks up 25 years in the wine business

Published: 30 June, 2015

Agency company Bancroft Wines is aiming to build its business in on-trade national accounts and expand its footprint in independent wine merchants as it enters its second quarter of a century.

Neil Bruce appointed as the new head of wine for Fuller's

Published: 24 June, 2015

Neil Bruce joined brewery, pub chain and inn operator Fuller, Smith & Turner P.L.C earler this month as the new head of wine replacing Mark Dally, the current wine and purchasing director.

'Fear' of retribution a challenge for the Grocery Code Adjudicator in getting suppliers to come forward

Published: 23 June, 2015

Fear of retribution from retailers is the biggest reason suppliers are not raising issues with the Groceries Code Adjudicator, according to a survey by regulator.

Hospitality sector visitors up 16% at London Wine Fair

Published: 10 June, 2015

London Wine Fair organiser Brintex has reported a 16% increase in visitors from the hospitality sector to this year's exhibition.

Insights: Independents Italian outlets are gaining traction through education and experimentation

Published: 09 June, 2015

Independent Italian outlets are upping the appeal of lesser-known, over-£10 wines by educating consumers and letting them experiment.

BFBB introduces 'confident and direct' pack for Southern Comfort

Published: 09 June, 2015

A new look for Southern Comfort is being introduced by Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands in the UK.

Origin Wine opens office in the US

Published: 08 June, 2015

Fairtrade and South African wine specialist Origin Wine has opened a new sales office to cover the North American market in a bid to establish what the company called "a global sourcing footprint".

Analysis: Do you remember your wine epiphany?

Published: 05 June, 2015

Trade personalities tell Rosie Davenport and Nigel Huddleston about the life-changing moment when they realised a career in wine was their destiny

Sipsmith's Chiswick distillery 'disappointed' after it is refused a license for late night distillery tours

Published: 02 June, 2015

London distiller Sipsmith has been refused a late licence, after opposition from residents near its Chiswick distillery.

Copestick Murray reports strong performance on back of 'iheart' and Prosecco

Published: 01 June, 2015

Copestick Murray reported turnover up 15% to £23.6m in 2014 on the strength of its leading wine and Prosecco brands, 'iHeart' wine and Mionetto.

Liberty Wines boost New Zealand portfolio

Published: 27 May, 2015

Liberty Wines has boosted its New Zealand portfolio after signing up wine producer Akarua.

Off-Piste Wines launches varietal-led range, from the creator of 'I Heart' brand

Published: 26 May, 2015

Off-Piste Wines has launched a new mid-tier range of varietal-led wines that is targeting younger consumers in the convenience sector.

Kingsland invests in plans to launch fruit flavoured wines

Published: 19 May, 2015

Kingsland Wine & Spirits is investing further in its Irlam site as it plans to roll out new fruit-flavoured wines

Asda cuts wine range by 8% but adds new range of lesser known varietals among 200 new lines

Published: 13 May, 2015

Asda has overhauled its entire wine range, cutting its total range by around 8% in order to rationalise the offer and accommodate more than 200 new products.

California wines performance in UK strongest its been in 20 years

Published: 12 May, 2015

At yesterday's fifth annual Golden State tasting, California producers heard from John McLaren, the UK director of the Wine Institute of California, that the category has not been in better position in the past 20 years.

Top ten things to know about the Majestic and Naked Wines merger

Published: 11 May, 2015

Last month following the announcement that Naked Wines was to be acquired by Majestic Plc for £70m, harpers.co.uk had an opportunity to talk with both Eamon Fitzgerald, the managing director of Naked Wines and the new chief executive officer, Rowan Gormley of Majestic Plc about what the merger would mean for their businesses.