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2015 year in review and hopes and fears for 2016: Anita Jackson, Wines of Chile

Published:  31 December, 2015

Anita Jackson, UK director of Wines of Chile, looks back at a successful 2015, with volume and value figures up over the previous year.  She was particularly pleased with the success of the innovative Mercado Andino tasting in 2015. But over the Christmas period she looking forward to putting her feet up and enjoy a little down time before 2016, where she sees the biggest challenge ahead is getting consumers to trade up in their wine purchases. 

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2015 year in review and hopes and fears for 2016: Bernard Fontannaz, Origin Wine

Published:  30 December, 2015

Bernard Fontannaz, founder of Origin Wine, looks back at an overall positive 2015 and is excited about the sustainable future he is building for his company. He had a year full of expansion and is looking forward to more innovation in 2016.

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2015 year in review and hopes and fears for 2016: Nik Darlington, Red Squirrel Wine

Published:  29 December, 2015

For founder of Red Squirrel Wine, Nik Darlington, 2015 was a year of tremendous growth. Next year Darlington is looking forward to getting his wines even further around the UK. He sees that in 2016 the way forward, although challenging, will be through building a loyal and sustainable customer base.

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2015 year in review and hopes and fears for 2016: Dan Townsend, Treasury Wine Estates

Published:  29 December, 2015

Dan Townsend, general manager of Europe for Treasury Wine Estates, saw 2015 as very strong year at TWE and thinks that the reverse takeover of Matthew Clark by Conviviality "has the potential to be a real game changer in terms of the UK trading landscape." Townsend is most excited about the opportunities that lay ahead in 2016, but sees Duty as one of the toughest challenges that trade faces next year.

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2015 year in review and hopes and fears for 2016: Sarah Abbott MW, Turkish Wine Alliance and Swirl

Published:  28 December, 2015

Sarah Abbott MW has her fingers in many pies, including running her own events company Swirl and helping clients like the Turkish Wine Alliance promote their wines in the UK. While 2015 was a brilliant year for her, she is looking forward to 2016 and helping wine producers in countries that face huge political and economic pressures promote their wines in the UK as wine in these countries is a symbol of defiant hope. But 2016 will also have challenges and she worries about the uncertainty of the UK remaining as part of the EU.

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2015 year in review and hopes and fears for 2016: Miles Beale, WSTA

Published:  28 December, 2015

Miles Beale chief executive officer of the Wine and Spirits Trade Association, celebrated the 'best budget outcome for almost 20 years' in 2015.  Looking ahead, Beale is gearing up to to make the case for a 2% duty cut and fairer treatment for wine in 2016.

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Time, please, ladies and gentlemen!

Published:  24 December, 2015

The Harpers team would like to wish all in the drinks trade a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year as we pirouette into the seasonal festivities and look ahead to a successful 2016.

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2015 year in review and hopes and fears for 2016: Andrew Maidment, Wines of Argentina

Published:  24 December, 2015

Andrew Maidment, the head of Wines of Argentina in the UK said 2015 was another great year with growth of 26% compared to 2014. Looking ahead though Maidment sees 2016 as year to continue to focus on the end drinker, but will be following the discount retailers next year.

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2015 year in review and hopes and fears for 2016: Robin Copestick, Copestick Murray

Published:  24 December, 2015

Robin Copestick of Copestick Murray looks back at Stoke City football and how healthy the UK wine trade was in 2015. Although 2015 was good- "2016 will be better still."

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English wine producer Hambledon Vineyard announces expansion plans

Published:  23 December, 2015

Hambledon Vineyard has announced plans to to increase the estates's production facilities in response to growing demand of its award-winning English sparkling wine.

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Scottish minimum unit pricing for alcohol hangs in balance against EU free trade laws

Published:  23 December, 2015

The European Court of Justice has ruled that the Scottish Government's case for minimum unit pricing [MUP] for alcohol could be in breach of free trade laws if tax-based measures could deliver a fairer and equally effective result with regard to protecting public health.

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November leisure spend falls as Britons watch spending in lead up to Christmas

Published:  23 December, 2015

Last month the average British household spent £188.41 on out of home leisure, which is a decrease of £5 (2%) year-on-year and a £17 (8%) decrease compared to October according to the Greene King Leisure Spend Tracker.

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2015 year in review and hopes and fears for 2016: Roger Jones, The Harrow at Little Bedwyn

Published:  23 December, 2015

The celebrated Roger Jones of Michelin-star restaurant The Harrow at Little Bedwyn had a great 2015 with sales up 20%! He

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2015 year in review and hopes and fears for 2016: Ayo Akintola, Oddbins

Published:  23 December, 2015

Ayo Akintola, the managing director of Oddbins saw 2015 as a challenging, but satisfactory year.  The 'manic' response of retailers to threat of discounters moving into the UK has been a challenge in 2015.  But Akintola is looking forward to 2016 as he sees the opportunity to work with interesting suppliers as a 'once in a generation' opportunity.

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A&E attendance for binge drinking doubles, Nuffield Trust report says

Published:  22 December, 2015

Binge drinking is placing increasing stress on hospital and A&E services in the UK, according to a new report from healthcare charity The Nuffield Trust.

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Father Christmas set to enjoy a whisky-fuelled Christmas night

Published:  22 December, 2015

Over three-quarters of us will leave something out for Father Christmas this year, according to a survey of Tesco customers.

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2015 year in review and hopes and fears for 2016: Hal Wilson, Cambridge Wine Merchants

Published:  22 December, 2015

Hal Wilson of Cambridge Wine Merchants has had an 'awesome' and 'dynamic' 2015. He has embraced the popularity of spirits, which has helped boost his offering to over 900 SKUs.  The two biggest challenges in 2016 Wilson's thinks will be to keep wine 'sexy' and combating supermarket discounting.

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New president for Franciacorta Consorzio

Published:  22 December, 2015

Franciacorta Consorzio, the governing body of the Franciacorta premium Italian sparkling wine region, has elected Vittorio Moretti, owner of Bellavista and Contadi Castaldi, as its president.

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2015 year in review and hopes and fears for 2016: Jo Wehring, Wines of South Africa

Published:  22 December, 2015

Jo Wehring of Wines of South Africa looks back at a successful Cape Wine in 2015, but sees Majestic as the retailer to watch heading into 2016. She is looking foward to a new tasting in 2016 that will be hosted by WOSA called Intrepid South Africa in the autumn next year- so watch this space.

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Diageo promotes new US CFO to drive return to growth

Published:  21 December, 2015

Jakob Ripshtein has been appointed as chief financial officer of Diageo's North American business.

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