Beale: ‘Punishingly high duty rates stifling home grown wine and spirit businesses’

The WSTA has renewed its calls on the Chancellor to cut alcohol duty to allow UK businesses to “thrive and compete on a global stage”. 

Sample registration opens for the b.f.t’s first virtual event

Pandemic cost hospitality £200m a day in 2020

Turnover for the hospitality sector dropped to less than half of 2019 levels in 2020, slipping by almost £72bn, which translates to nearly £200m a day, according to the latest edition of the UK Hospitality (UKH) and CGA Quarterly Tracker.

Industry needs to ‘redouble efforts’ to scrap VI-1s

Victoria Prentis, minister for fishing and farming, this week confirmed that the government will “consider in due course whether there is a case for revisiting the requirements of the VI-1 certification”. 

Vinpro approaches courts to save SA wine industry

Vinpro has announced it has approached the Cape High Court in a bid to save the beleaguered South African wine industry.

InterLoire appoints local winemaker as new President

InterLoire, the interprofessional body for Loire Valley Wines, has appointed local winemaker Lionel Gosseaume as its new president. He takes over from Jean-Martin Dutour as of now.

Minister dashes hopes of VAT cut extension

A treasury minister has said there are “no current plans” to further extend the reduction in VAT for hospitality businesses despite estimates that rising rates could directly and permanently impact the sector and lead to the loss of up to 310,000 jobs.

Mangrove signs distribution deal with New York Distilling Company

Mangrove has signed a deal as the exclusive UK distributor of New York Distilling Company. 

Lay & Wheeler snaps up further ex-Berry Bros staff

Lay & Wheeler has appointed a new head of operations, while also expanding its private clients team as part of the company’s growth strategy.

Pernod Ricard Winemakers partners with Trellis to optimise wine operations

Pernod Ricard Winemakers has partnered with Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform Trellis to optimise its wine operations.

Brown-Forman brings all UK distribution in-house

Brown-Forman has announced that it will distribute the entirety of its brand portfolio in the UK.

Portman celebrates high compliance on 25th anniversary

A new report out today from The Portman Group reveals an all time high in compliance with its Code of Practice for the UK drinks industry.

Trivento enters top 10 branded light wines

Trivento, Concha y Toro’s (CyT) Argentinean wine brand, led the charge as the company delivered strong off-trade growth for the 12-week period to 2January 2021. 

Bordeaux Négoce takes position for 2020 Primeurs campaign

Bordeaux Négoce has said the Bordeaux wine trade is ready for a 2020 Primeurs campaign before the summer.

Ridgeview to feature on Jamie & Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast

Ridgeview will be putting English sparkling wine in the spotlight this week, with the Sussex winery set to feature on Jamie & Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast. 

Canned wine brand Hun smashes crowdfunding target

Canned wine brand Hun Wines, which is backed by Waitrose CEO James Bailey, smashed its £400k crowdfunding target on the day of public launch. 

Calls for UK trade to help crippled SA by freeing up tank space

Richard Bampfield MW has issued a call to the UK trade to support the beleaguered South African wine industry as producers continue to suffer crippling government restriction and oversupply issues.

Take Out to Help Out e-book from Bums on Seats

Bums on Seats has launched a free e-book resource, Take Out to Help Out, giving advice for on-trade operators as to how best to develop and market an at home dining offer.

Rathfinny joins Liberty portfolio

Sussex-based producer Rathfinny has appointed Liberty Wines as its sole agent in the UK and Ireland.

First roll out of Absolut’s paper bottle launches in the UK

Pernod Ricard’s flagship vodka brand, Absolut, will be rolling out its prototype “paper” bottle from today (25 January), initially in both the UK and Sweden.