News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Burgundy favourite makes on-trade debut

Published: 15 January, 2009

Blason de Bourgogne has made its on-trade debut, almost seven years after it first appeared in the UK take-home market.

Rosé sales to lead growth in UK

Published: 14 January, 2009

Rosé sales will be the powerhouse in the UK wine market over the next five years, according to research commissioned by Vinexpo.

Tesco has poor Christmas

Published: 14 January, 2009

Tesco has reported its worst Christmas sales performance since the last recesssion, as the discounters continue to make gains in the UK market.

With wine and spirits activity slowing to its seasonal drip, it looks like there is no escape from the recession for the industry. But it is not the reduced activity, which is likely to have an adverse impact on smaller companies.

Constellation dumps value spirits brands

Published: 13 January, 2009

Constellation Brands is selling its value spirits business to New Orleans-based Sazerac for $334 million.

Wines in the Press, January 10-11

Published: 13 January, 2009

The Observer

Wetherspoons boss's warning over pub debts

Published: 12 January, 2009

Wetherspoons boss Tim Martin has warned that private equity-owned pubcos are too burdened with debt to invest in their struggling estates.

Letter January 9

Published: 12 January, 2009

There's a silver lining to every cloud, or so the saying goes. This new year, in my opinion, is going to be a fantastic year for those with burnt thumbs from unfriendly, 'human driven' and down trodden stocks and shares to diversify their investment portfolios (i.e. spread their risk) and stick some of their hard earned money into one of the oldest investment asset classes - fine wine.

Bullish Christmas sales a boost to the industry

Published: 09 January, 2009

Wine retailers are bullish about their Christmas sales, with early indications suggesting that a late surge may have compensated for a sluggish start to the festive period, according to a report in today's issue of Harpers.

Mount and Paul set up consultancy business

Published: 09 January, 2009

Former Western Wines boss Mike Paul and Somerfield wine supremo Angela Mount have joined forces to form a new wine business consultancy.

Constellation's European sales take a hit

Published: 09 January, 2009

Constellation has admitted that branded wine sales in Europe fell by 11% in its third financial quarter.

Divine Proportion

Published: 09 January, 2009

Since the Renaissance, many artists and architects have proportioned their works to approximate the golden ratio - especially in the form of the golden rectangle, in which the ratio of the longer side to the shorter is the golden ratio. The rationale behind it is the belief that this proportion is organic, universal, harmonic and aesthetically pleasing. Indeed, being evident everywhere in the universe (in fact, many things around us can be expressed in this ratio), divine proportion (which is also called Golden ratio, divine section, golden cut and mean of Phidias) is probably the most known law of proportion which can dramatically improve the communication of your design.

Weak pound buoys UK's fine wine auction market

Published: 08 January, 2009

Auctions of fine and rare wines in the UK are bucking a global downward trend as international buyers move their trading to London to take advantage of the weak pound.

M&S to axe jobs and close stores

Published: 07 January, 2009

Marks & Spencer is on a mission to cut costs after unveiling group sales down 1.2% in the 13 weeks to December 27.

Tesco accused over cut price drink offers

Published: 06 January, 2009

Tesco is reported to be facing two official investigations over the way it has been running recent discounted drink offers.

Tesco accused over cut price drink offers

Published: 06 January, 2009

Tesco is reported to be facing two official investigations over the way it has been running recent discounted drink offers.

Morrisons offers New Year bargains

Published: 05 January, 2009

Morrisons is entering the New Year with a range of discounts on branded wines.

Wines in the Press January 3-4, 2009

Published: 05 January, 2009

Tim's looking for less alcohol, Jancis discovers some pleasant surprises in the southern Rhone, while Anthony and Jane find it difficult to believe that expensive wines will move very quickly in 2009

Pubs offer pints for £1 and wine for £5 a bottle

Published: 04 January, 2009

Pub chains are responding to the recession by offering massive discounts on new year drinks prices, including beer for 99p a pint, bottles of wine for £4.99 and main meals for £1 a dish.

Wines in the Press, December 20-21

Published: 03 January, 2009

Jancis gets busy with the fizzy, Jane finds unsold bargains, Anthony highlights independents in the Independent and Joanna experiments with a magic wand