News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Virgin Wines wants to be Interflora of wine gifting

Published: 03 November, 2014

Online wine retailer Virgin Wines is looking to "own" the wine gifts market with its new gifting service which includes options from £20 to £150.

Lidl shows the way forward in how to sell wine says Robert Joseph at DWCC

Published: 03 November, 2014

Both multiple and specialist retailers could learn a lot from "the balls" that Lidl and other discounters are now using to market and sell wine, according to wine commentator and consultant Robert Joseph.

Wine drinkers want "dinner party one liners" not education says Justin Howard-Sneyd at DWCC

Published: 01 November, 2014

The majority of wine consumers are not looking to be educated about wine, but are interested in little nuggets of information or a "dinner party one liner" about the wines they have bought, according to Laithwaite's global wine consultant Justin Howard-Sneyd MW.

Wine bloggers risk becoming "dinosaurs" unless they become more professional hears DWCC

Published: 01 November, 2014

Wine bloggers and communicators need to raise their game and become more professional or risk becoming "dinosaurs" and out of touch not only with the wine trade but with the consumers they are trying to talk to.

Coravin founder tells DWCC how he turned near disaster into a PR success

Published: 31 October, 2014

To create something genuinely different in any market you need to try and satisfy an "unmet need" that "makes people's lives better" in that sector, according to Greg Lambrecht, founder and inventor of the Coravin wine preservation system.

The Week That Was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

Published: 31 October, 2014

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have done a review of the top online news, financial news for the drinks trade, Q&As, and opinion stories.

Aperol celebrates success as sales rocket 800% at Waitrose

Published: 31 October, 2014

Italian aperitif brand Aperol is gaining a strong foothold in the UK market, as sales of the drink shot up 800% at Waitrose in the last year.

Wines of South Africa ramps up Asian focus

Published: 31 October, 2014

Wines of South Africa is stepping up its marketing efforts in Asia with the opening of a dedicated office in Hong Kong.

Public health experts call for calorie labelling for beers, wines and spirits

Published: 31 October, 2014

The drinks industry faces renewed calls for calorie labelling on drinks, following research which shows strong public backing for the measure and a lack of consumer awareness on how calorific drinks can be.

Jancis Robinson leads roll call of wine personalities at DWCC in Montreux

Published: 31 October, 2014

Jancis Robinson MW leads an international line up of leading wine figures that have descended on Montreux, on the bank of Lake Geneva, for this year's Digital Wine Communications Conference.

WSTA recognises trade figures contributions to 'Call Time on Duty' campaign

Published: 31 October, 2014

The Wine and Spirits Trade Association has recognised a select group of MPs, Michael Saunders of the newly formed Bibendum PLB Group and Denis O'Flynn of Pernod Ricard UK for their outstanding contributions to the success of the 'Call Time On Duty' campaign.

Chief of the Week: Michael Saunders

Published: 30 October, 2014

There really can only be one stand out personality in the wine and spirits world this week. Yes, Michael Saunders the new chief of the combined Bibendum PLB group following the former's takeover of the latter earlier this week.

Trade reacts to the Bibendum PLB merger

Published: 30 October, 2014

Rival suppliers and potential customers of the new Bibendum PLB group have been unsurprised by the news of the merger, given tough market conditions, with most saying further consolidation in the supply chain is on the cards.

Majestic asks suppliers to 'support' new warehouse with discounts

Published: 30 October, 2014

Majestic has asked some of its suppliers to contribute a 4p per bottle retrospective payment to help fund its new warehouse in Hemel Hempstead, Harpers understands.

Armagnac Academies expands to China

Published: 29 October, 2014

French brandy Armagnac is setting its sights on China with the launch of its Armagnac Acadamies there later this month.

TescoGate: Tesco and Serious Fraud Office confirm criminal investigation

Published: 29 October, 2014

The Serious Fraud Office has launched a criminal investigation into Tesco's accounting irregularities after the retailer confimed it had mis-stated profits by £263 million.

Beam Suntory names Rebecca Asseline as Courvoisier ambassador

Published: 29 October, 2014

Rebecca Asseline has been appointed the global brand ambassador for Courvoisier.

Gruppo Campari owned Glen Grant releases 50-year-old whisky

Published: 29 October, 2014

Glen Grant, the Scotch whisky brand owned by Gruppo Campari, is releasing an "exceptionally rare" 50-year-old expression in a tribute to craftsmanship.

Bibendum acquires PLB to create 'UK's most powerful independent' drinks supplier

Published: 29 October, 2014

Bibendum, one of the UK's largest wine and spirits distributors has acquired major rival, PLB, for an undisclosed sum and is merging both businesses, as of today, October 29, into the Bibendum PLB Group, Harpers.co.uk can reveal.

Analysis: The new Bibendum PLB supergroup

Published: 29 October, 2014

Bibendum's acquisition of UK drinks rival PLB and the merger of both businesses has created a supergroup, complete with five divisions, catering to the on and off-trades, independents, specialist beer and spirits and events sectors.