News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Two travel bursaries awarded for 2021 Gerard Basset Travel Scholarship

Published: 19 October, 2021

Two travel bursaries in Gerard Basset’s name are set to be awarded this year.

Sparkling wine premium could be scrapped in alcohol duty overhaul

Published: 19 October, 2021

Reports from the national press suggest that the premium on sparkling wine duty could be scrapped by chancellor Rishi Sunak in the upcoming Autumn Budget in a move which could bring sparkling wine duty in line with still.

WSTA makes further calls for duty freeze

Published: 19 October, 2021

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) is again calling on the Government to freeze alcohol duty as consumers face record high prices over the festive period.

UKHospitality invites industry to showcase sustainability at COP 26

Published: 19 October, 2021

Trade association UKHospitality (UKH) is inviting operators and industry representatives to attend an industry event at COP26 next month.

Hermitage launches new spirits and liqueur agency

Published: 19 October, 2021

Hermitage, the premium Cognac importer and bottler, has launched Bunch & Bushel bunchandbushel.com, a trade arm bringing a wider range of spirits to the market.

RTDs continue to grow boosted by hard seltzers and FABs

Published: 19 October, 2021

The market for ready-to-drink (RTD) alcohol products continues to show traction and demand from consumers, according to a new study from IWSR Drinks Market Analysis.

Online retail BWS sales continue to buck downward trend

Published: 18 October, 2021

Online retail sales of beers, wine and spirits (BWS) remain strong, increasing by 18.6% in September 2021, bucking the downward trend of overall retail sales, according to latest IMRG Capgemini Online Retail Index, which tracks the online sales performance of over 200 retailers.

Liberty Wines goes ‘carbon neutral plus’

Published: 18 October, 2021

Liberty Wines has revealed that it has become the only ‘carbon neutral plus’ UK wine supplier – offsetting more emissions than the business generates.

Hospitality workers accuse bosses of keeping tips

Published: 18 October, 2021

More than half of hospitality workers in the UK claim their bosses lie about tips, according to new research by comparison site money.co.uk.

UKHospitality urges backing for Hospitality Apprenticeships Week

Published: 18 October, 2021

UKHospitality (UKH) has urged the sector to use Hospitality Apprenticeships Week 2021 as a platform to champion the diverse and exciting careers on offer.

Managed hospitality venues see September sales bounce

Published: 18 October, 2021

Managed restaurant, pub and bar groups achieved a ‘significant bounce’ in sales in September, the latest edition of the Coffer CGA Business Tracker has revealed.

Coravin opens first pop-up wine bar and retail outlet

Published: 14 October, 2021

Coravin, the wine preservation system, is to open its very first pop-up wine bar and retail outlet in London.

Carson & Carnevale Wines becomes UK distributor for Tuscany’s San Giusto a Rentennano

Published: 14 October, 2021

London-based wine importer and wholesaler Carson & Carnevale Wines (C&C Wines) has been appointed as the UK importer and distributor for Tuscany’s San Giusto a Rentennano.

Long Read: Who do you think you are talking to?

Published: 14 October, 2021

Simon Huntington, former head of ecommerce at trade merchant and retailer Roberson Wine, looks at some of the difficulties faced by companies who have diversified into online retail and outlines how by trying to talk to everyone, they risk being heard by no one.

Ferovinum gets capital backing to support wine and spirits sector

Published: 14 October, 2021

Ferovinum, the company that provides capital against wine and spirits inventories, has unveiled a new funding facility with BCI Finance that will enable it to increase the scale of its support.

Soho Street Cocktails signs exclusive distribution deal with Vindependents

Published: 13 October, 2021

Soho Street Cocktails, the ready-to-drink premium cocktail brand, has signed an exclusive distribution deal with Vindependents, the independent merchant buying group.

WineGB Wessex appoints Jacob Leadley as new chair

Published: 13 October, 2021

WineGB Wessex has appointed Black Chalk winemaker and CEO Jacob Leadley as its new chair from 9 November.

Limited edition ALESSANDRO M. corkscrew in promotion with MSI

Published: 13 October, 2021

MSI, the computer and gaming company, has launched a new promotion called Live in Everyday Passion, offering a free limited edition corkscrew.

Licensed sector shrinks by 10,000 sites

Published: 13 October, 2021

The licensed sector has shrunk by nearly 10,000 sites from pre-Covid levels, the new Market Recovery Monitor from CGA and AlixPartners has revealed.

Late-night sector loses 86,000 jobs due to pandemic

Published: 13 October, 2021

The UK’s night-time cultural economy (NTCE) sector has been ravaged by the pandemic, with around 86,000 jobs lost in the sector since the 2019 high, a new report has found.