News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Whisky cask marketplace Cask Trade opens first warehouse

Published: 31 March, 2025

Cask Trade, the whisky cask marketplace founded in 2018, has opened its first warehouse located in the famed Speyside whisky region.

Majestic acquires Enotria&Coe

Published: 31 March, 2025

Majestic has entered into a formal agreement to acquire Enotria&Coe in a move which looks to turbocharge the retailer’s ambition to become one of the largest suppliers to the UK on-trade.

Japanese whisky adopts new logo in GI status push

Published: 28 March, 2025

The Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Makers Association (JSLMA) has announced the adoption of a new logo to reinforce its industry standards regarding whisky production, first established in February 2021.

Bodega Cuatro Rayas joins Alliance Wine

Published: 28 March, 2025

Bodega Cuatro Rayas from DO Rueda has joined Alliance Wine’s Spanish portfolio, handing over the reins to the distributor to oversee the UK’s independent off-trade and on-trade channels as well as the national off-trade.

Hatch Mansfield awarded B Corp

Published: 27 March, 2025

The premium wine importer Hatch Mansfield has been awarded the B Corp certification by B Lab, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp movement.

Naked Wines announces ambitious growth plans

Published: 27 March, 2025

A new strategic plan from Naked Wines has been announced by the online retailer, including the aspiration of reaching £10-15m annual earnings before earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) in the medium term.

UK bucks global underage drinking trend

Published: 27 March, 2025

Data from the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking’s (IARD) 2025 Report on Underage Drinking can reveal that since 2010, underage drinking has fallen or stabilised in 58% of the 66 countries analysed. Included within this cohort are countries for whom there were reductions of underage drinking of 40% or more including Australia, the US and Japan.

‘Missed opportunity’ for businesses via Spring Statement

Published: 27 March, 2025

The trade has expressed its disappointment that no relief for businesses will be forthcoming via Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement, as the industry continues to face a roster of tax hikes from the last Autumn Budget.

Gallo doubles down on premium following 2024 slowdown

Published: 26 March, 2025

Californian specialist E&J Gallo is continuing to invest significantly in its luxury portfolio despite moderation headwinds coming thick and fast and the on-trade suffering in mature markets.

Virgin Wines eyes profit growth surge to £100m

Published: 26 March, 2025

Virgin Wines, one of the UK’s leading online wine retailers, has announced a new growth strategy which aims to increase the company’s yearly revenue to £100m within five years. This would represent a substantial increase as the retailer's revenue for the 2024 financial year stood at £59m.

Inaugural Mediterranean Wine Symposium promotes ‘oenological diversity’

Published: 26 March, 2025

Perelada castle in the heart of Emporda became host to a pan-European congress on Monday (24 March) as the first-ever Mediterranean Wine Symposium took place.

Strength in numbers: Raising a glass at The CollectEve tasting

Published: 25 March, 2025

Ever wondered what’s the collective noun for a group of female-founded wine importers working across the UK?

Visits to UK wineries up 55% in boon for tourism

Published: 24 March, 2025

In 2023, 1.5 million visits were made to UK vineyards and wineries, up 55% on 2022. These visits provide vital support to UK estates, with wine tourism accounting for 25% of total winery income on average.

Wages stagnate for hospitality

Published: 24 March, 2025

The latest Salary Survey from KAM paints a concerning picture for workers in the hospitality sector, as the number of those earning £30,000 or less per year increases for the second year in a row.

Trends show millennials remain vital demographic for wine trade

Published: 24 March, 2025

A suite of consumer trends revealed by the IWSR shows that millennials, those born between 1980 and 1995, remain a key consumer demographic for the wine trade in the years to come.

UKH: Narrow focus on growth leads to poor social outcomes

Published: 24 March, 2025

Analysis from UKHospitality’s (UKH) new Social Productivity Index highlights that the most economically productive sectors deliver the least social value. By contrast, sectors such as hospitality, are most effective at delivering growth more evenly across the country, ensuring social and geographic accessibility.

Milestone Wines adds sommelier Marcello Colletti to London team

Published: 21 March, 2025

Lancashire–based importer Milestone Wines has added sommelier Marcello Colletti to its London on-trade team. The role will see Colletti head up restaurant sales within the M25.

Wine Lister: English sparkling competes with Champagne in quality perception

Published: 21 March, 2025

A new report on English sparkling wine from Wine Lister, the fine wine consulting agency, shows that on average critics’ score the category 90.6, which compares favourably with sector-leading Champagne wines (90.8).

Flat February for hospitality as consumer spending tightens

Published: 21 March, 2025

Britain’s leading restaurant, pub and bar groups delivered fractional like-for-like sales growth of just 0.1% in February, signalling a challenging start to 2025 for the sector as consumers continue to remain watchful of their disposable income.

Friday Read: Charting Armit’s InVivo-backed ambitions

Published: 21 March, 2025

The annual Armit Wines portfolio tasting (pictured) aways brings a spot of vinous glamour to the busy London tasting calendar, following on from launch events for new vintages of the likes of 2023 Guidalberto and 2022 Sassicaia at various buzzing London restaurants for the lucky few. And, in addition to such highlights from its top Italian-leaning portfolio, this year the importer launched a new initiative in the form of what was modestly described as a ‘press lunch’, where various senior editors, writers and critics gathered to for a lively debate on how best to engage a younger generation with fine wines.