Maxim Schulte backs bottled cocktails

Top bartender Maxim Schulte has become the latest star in the quality bar and restaurant firmament to back pre-bottled cocktails, via a new partnership with LAIBA Beverages.

Spirits boost drinks sales recovery while wine trails behind

Drinks sales have continued to edge further back towards pre-Covid levels in August, with spirits emerging as the leading category helping to catapult the on-trade towards recovery.

The Drinks Trust and The Burnt Chef Project partner to broaden mental health services

The Drinks Trust and The Burnt Chef Project have joined forces to extend their mental health services, with the Drinks Trust making their helpline available to users of The Burnt Chef Project and vice versa.

Drinks Trust backs PR internship for pandemic-affected workers

The Drinks Community – the professional members platform from The Drinks Trust – has partnered with UK drinks public relations agency Domino Communications to offer an internship for those working in the hospitality and drinks industry, whose livelihoods have been negatively affected by the pandemic.

Grocery sales impacted as traditional shopping behaviour returns

Shoppers are returning to stores to make regular, smaller purchases and a divide is beginning to emerge among online grocery shoppers, new grocery data has revealed.

Restaurants and bars emerge as the big winners of Freedom Day

Britain’s managed pub, restaurant and bar groups lifted sales back close to pre-Covid-19 levels in July, new data has revealed, with restaurants and bars benefitting the most from the easing of restrictions.

Bouncing Back Q&A: Tom Smith, Accolade Wines

It’s been a one-of-a-kind 18 months for the trade. Here, as we begin to push into the second half of the second year of the pandemic, Harpers is catching up with businesses to find out how they’re focusing on recovering from the shock, and what challenges and opportunities lie ahead.

Sustainable Wines of Great Britain announces first accredited wines

The first wines carrying the Sustainable Wines of Great Britain (SWGB) Trade Mark are now ready to reach the shelves, marking a major step forward for the UK’s commitment to making wines within an environment-friendly framework.

Pernod Ricard targets dog lovers with new pooch-orientated launch

Pernod Ricard has launched a new Australian wine range aimed at dog lovers, after the UK’s love of its canine companions boomed over lockdown.

C&C looks to Alto Adige and Sicily for new additions

London-based wine importer and wholesaler Carson & Carnevale Wines (C&C) has been appointed the UK agent for Alto Adige’s Kellerei St Pauls coop and Sicily’s Assuli winery, as it continues to push beyond the channel-orientated struggles of the past 18 months.

‘Pingdemic’ eases as self-isolation rules change

Hospitality workers who are double-jabbed will no longer have to self-isolate at home for 10 days after coming into contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid.

Alliance Oz subsidiary scoops award for country’s best Grenache

With Grenache a hot new ticket out of Australia, Thistledown Wines – a subsidiary of UK based Alliance Wine Group – has scooped the award for the country’s best Grenache and has been promoted to five red stars in the 2022 Halliday Wine Companion.

The Langham appoints new Artesian bar manager

The Langham, London has appointed Lorenza Pezzetta as bar manager of its ‘World’s 50 Best’ Artesian bar.

Long read: Museum Wines’ MD Daniel Grigg shares his passion for South Africa

Long a champion of The Cape, Daniel Grigg gives the lowdown on why the wines make commercial sense and what more needs to be done to communicate its vinous cornucopia. 

Bordeaux Wines brings white wine pop-up to London

Bordeaux Wines UK will be bringing its Bordeaux White Wine Bar to London’s Flat Iron Square from 1 to 5 September as part of its continued strategy to promote the region's white wine styles to UK consumers.

Bouncing Back Q&A: Jay Wright, Virgin Wines

Bouncing Back Q&A: Ted Sandbach, Oxford Wine Company

It’s been a one-of-a-kind 18 months for the trade. Here, as we begin to push into the second half of the second year of the pandemic, Harpers is catching up with businesses to find out how they’re focusing on recovering from the shock, and what challenges and opportunities lie ahead.

Pol Roger Portfolio adds Domaine Vacheron

Pol Roger Portfolio, the subsidiary of Champagne Pol Roger, has signed a deal as the exclusive UK distributor of Domaine Vacheron taking effect from next week (16 August).

DGB acquires majority stake in Backsberg

South Africa’s DGB has acquired the majority shareholding in Backsberg, a long-established name in the Cape winelands which has been in the hands of the Back family for over a century.

Hallgarten bolsters New World offering

Hallgarten & Novum Wines has bolstered its New World wine portfolio with 11 new wines from five producers.