News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Leadership change at Symington Family Estates

Published: 12 February, 2025

Current chairman Johnny Symington MBE is retiring from the eponymous Port business after 40 years at the helm, passing the baton on to younger family members.

Hallgarten recruits Madame F to rosé portfolio

Published: 12 February, 2025

Madame F, the queer-owned rosé brand with an ethos of championing the LGBTQ+ community within the wine trade, has been added to Hallgarten & Novum Wine’s expanding roster.

New figures show night time economy in slight decline

Published: 12 February, 2025

A new report by CGA by NIQ and the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), the trade association representing the night time industry, shows that the total number of nightclubs, late-night bars and casinos fell by 2.8% to 2,264 venues as of December 2024.

Vagabond announces suite of new senior appointments amid expansion drive

Published: 11 February, 2025

Four new senior appointments have been made by the Majestic-owned wine bar business Vagabond, including the hiring of Jack Merrylees as head of marketing and PR.

Be Inclusive Hospitality report: barriers persist for ethnically diverse talent

Published: 11 February, 2025

Be Inclusive Hospitality’s fifth industry report, drawing from over 4,000 survey responses over the past three years, reveals persistent challenges faced by ethnically diverse talent within the hospitality sector.

Fells commercial team restructures in growth push

Published: 11 February, 2025

Among a suite of changes at Fells, Richard Brockett (pictured, left) has been promoted from national off-trade director to sales director for the company. The changes come in a renewed growth push at Fells for 2025 and the years ahead, as the importer seeks to a pursue new a brand development strategy, and also coincide with a reshuffle at the top of majority owner Symington Family Estates.

Gérard Basset Foundation leads UK winners at V d’Or awards

Published: 10 February, 2025

The Gérard Basset Foundation and the Bordeaux Mentor Week won the ‘Best Education & Knowledge Sharing V d’Or’ category at the V d’Or awards 2025. The event, attended by Harpers, was hosted by Vinexposium at the Pavillon Gabriel in Paris on the eve (9 February) of Wine Paris.

Japanese sake exports grow by 6% globally

Published: 10 February, 2025

Sake exports grew by +6% year on year for 2024 compared to the year prior, with the export value reaching 43.5bn yen (approximately £230mn) with 3.45mn cases of the rice wine reaching a record 80 countries and regions.

González Byass announces alliance between its Casa Pedro Domecq and mezcal distillery

Published: 10 February, 2025

The new alliance between mezcal distillery, Destilería Los Danzantes, and Casa Pedro Domecq, the Mexican joint venture between González Byass and Emperador Group, will aim to expand the reach of the Mezcal producer. The alliance follows a capital injection by Casa Pedro Domecq.

Nick Gillett: Growth by the barrel – why Rum can do no wrong

Published: 10 February, 2025

What’s not to love about rum. It’s a party drink, it’s fun, it makes you think of tropical climates and holidays – and above all else, it’s delicious. The ideal tonic for the depressing outlook of a dull British winter. For 25 years we’ve been saying ‘Rum is the next big thing’. But unlike the gin boom of the early 2010s, the slow and steady growth of the category has actually turned into 25 years of unwavering success. It snuck up on us to become one of the largest and most successful spirit categories – and it looks like there’s even more growth to come.

Oregon and Washington's winemaking coalition

Published: 10 February, 2025

Once again presenting a united front, Washington and Oregon returned to the UK on Thursday (6 February) to showcase the unique offering of the Pacific Northwest as North America’s answer to Burgundy and Bordeaux.

30 Under 30: Deadline extended!

Published: 10 February, 2025

There is only a short time left to nominate yourself or a colleague for this year’s 30 Under 30 via our now extended the deadline of Tuesday 18 February.

Chivas Brothers sees slight drop in global sales

Published: 07 February, 2025

Chivas Brothers, the Pernod Ricard Scotch whisky business which can name The Glenlivet and Chivas Regal in its portfolio, saw a 2% drop in sales for the first half of this 2024-2025 financial year, from April to December 2024.

Gonzalez Byass UK comes of age with showing of new agencies

Published: 07 February, 2025

Gonzalez Byass UK celebrated 21 years to the day since the registration of the company in Britain, putting on a comprehensive portfolio tasting yesterday (6 February) in central London, complete with birthday cake for the assembled tasters.

Wine Society announces MW as new permanent buyer

Published: 07 February, 2025

The Wine Society has announced the permanent appointment of Victoria Mason MW to the Society’s buying team.

Moët Hennessy MD new addition to WSTA board

Published: 06 February, 2025

Julie Nollet, MD of Moët Hennessy for UK & Ireland, has been announced as the newest member of the WSTA executive board.

Pernod Ricard reports sales fall across global markets

Published: 06 February, 2025

French drinks giant, Pernod Ricard, has reported a fall in sales globally of -4% for the first half of the 2025 financial year. Falls in sales were seen across all major markets.

Wines of Roussillon announces campaign to support UK commercial efforts

Published: 05 February, 2025

The Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Roussillon (CIVR) has announced a three-year campaign to support its producers and importers in the UK.

New Zealand pioneer Peter Babich passes away

Published: 05 February, 2025

Peter Babich, second generation head of the Babich family and a giant of the New Zealand wine industry, has passed away at the age of 92.

Drinks United launch new website to promote DEI initiative

Published: 05 February, 2025

Drinks United, the joint collaboration between the WSTA, the WSET and The Drinks Trust to promote inclusivity with the drinks trade, has launched a new website to promote its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiative.