The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has revealed a significant drop in exports, with a decline of 18% in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. The value of exports in H1 2024 fell to £2.1bn, while the volume dropped by 10.2%, equating to 566 million 70cl bottles, or 36 bottles per second. This contrasts with 40 bottles per second in the first half of 2023.
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A new review of alcohol labelling in the UK has shown almost universal compliance with the Portman Group’s voluntary health labelling guidelines.
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The number of job vacancies in the UK’s hospitality sector has dropped below 100,000 for the first time since the pandemic, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). There are currently 98,000 vacancies in food service and accommodation, marking a reduction on recent years. However, the number remains 5,000 higher than pre-pandemic levels of 93,000.
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Family-owned independent wine and spirits specialist, Hammonds of Knutsford, has brokered a new partnership with Rascallion Wines of South Africa to be its exclusive agent in the UK and Ireland.
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Despite a 4% decline in the overall UK wine market, French wines recorded a 6% growth, driven by a 21% surge in wines from the Languedoc-Roussillon region.
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Indigo Wine celebrated 21 years in business this week via a special gathering of the wines and winemakers which helped to put the business on the UK map.
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Wine importer Hallgarten & Novum Wines has further expanded its portfolio for the UK’s premium hospitality and retail sectors by adding several new international producers. This includes two Italian wineries, La Collina Dei Ciliegi from Valpantena in Valpolicella and Sardinia’s Sella & Mosca.
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UKHospitality is urging the government to take immediate action to prevent a sharp rise in business rates for thousands of hospitality businesses, warning that bills could skyrocket in April 2025 without intervention.
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Austria has declared a 'very early vintage' for 2024, with volumes expected to be considerably lower than the recent average.
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González Byass UK has announced the addition of Famiglia Castellani to its UK wine portfolio, with the collaboration starting on 9 September 2024.
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Henkell Freixenet, a global leader in sparkling wine and renowned supplier of still wines, has reinforced its presence in Portugal by completing the acquisition of Vinicom, a family-owned wine distribution company.
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Ben Branson, the man behind pioneering low & no brand Seedlip is celebrating ten years of boundary breaking with a new product launch, made at a pioneering new facility designed to take his creations to the next level.
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The London Assembly’s Economy, Culture and Skills Committee has launched an investigation into the challenges facing the city’s night-time economy, focusing on the long-term effects of the pandemic, rising inflation and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The inquiry aims to assess how well London’s night-time leisure sector has recovered and to explore how existing mayoral policies support the ambition of a “24-hour city”.
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A new Food & Beverage Manager Development Programme has been launched to help individuals working in hospitality to develop managerial and leadership skills.
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Wine-forward members club 67 Pall Mall has announced the winners of its first ever Global Wine Communicator Awards.
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Hugh Johnson OBE, a leading figure in the world of wine writing and one of the UK's most recognised wine commentators, has invested in Sugrue South Downs, the award-winning English sparkling wine producer led by Dermot and Ana Sugrue. The exact sum of Johnson’s investment remains undisclosed.
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Liberty Wines’ chairman David Gleave MW pens a personal tribute in the wake of Enotria founder Remo Nardone’s passing, celebrating Remo’s important legacy on the UK wine scene.
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At The Wine Society’s ‘Future of Wine’ panel discussion, hosted at The Conduit in Covent Garden, experts debated the evolving landscape of wine consumption. The event shed light on two dominant themes reshaping the industry: the influence of younger consumers and the impact of the wellness movement. Panellists, including Hannah Crosbie, Mark Andrew MW, Pauline Vicard, Pierre Mansour, Becky Sykes and Mags Janjo, tackled industry anxieties over the changing habits of new generations and the rise of mindful drinking.
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New data has revealed the precarious business of investing in celebrity backed brands; for while they tend to outperform their total category, celebrity involvement doesn’t always guarantee success.
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London’s D&D restaurant group isn’t the only major player in UK hospitality to significantly invest in outdoor spaces over the past 17 years.
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