Indie comment: too much power among too few distributors

Paul Tutton, owner of Waterloo Wine in Borough, London, gets on his soapbox about the increasing power of distributors and breweries on the specialist market.

Domaines Paul Mas opens UK office

Languedoc producer Domaines Paul Mas has appointed Elin Mann to run its first ever dedicated sales and marketing office based in London.

Speed dating with the suppliers

Can Grupo Codorníu convince you it's got what it takes to be your ideal match?

Indie comment: Meirion Williams on a high street renaissance

At a recent barbecue (yes, we did manage to sneak one in this summer), someone asked what I did for a living. I replied that I sold wine for an independent, family-run business, established some 40 years ago.

CIVB launches in-store tasting initiative for independents

The Bordeaux Wine Council (CIVB) has launched A Taste For Bordeaux, a new in-store consumer tasting initiative for wine merchants.

WWA makes indie-friendly changes to pricing and service

World Wine Agencies has launched a new logistics model to allow independents to purchase at the "best possible" ex-cellar prices and in lower quantities to help keep stock holding to a minimum.

Charles Taylor Wines to hold first northern portfolio tasting

Charles Taylor Wines is to hold its first stand-alone portfolio tasting in the north of England, in a bid to capitalise on the region's "unrealised potential ".

Wines of Sicily Tasting

Sicilian wines are a great match with the independent sector, but if you don't know your Nero d'Avola from your Nerello Mascalese then head to the Wines of Sicily tasting to find out more.

Indie research: local shopkeepers are Britain's hardest workers

Sixty per cent of independent shopkeepers work more than 50 hours in an average week, while just 7% work fewer than 30 hours a week, according to new findings from the Association of Convenience Stores.

The Big Question - indies speak out

In the first of our new series the Big Question we give independent wine merchants the chance to speak out about topics that matter to them and their business.

Additions to SITT Autumn

Independent on and off-trade buyers on the lookout for wines seeking UK distribution or something new to revive their ranges should head to SITT Autumn on September 24.

Indies should band together and stand out

Independent wine merchants are being urged to raise their profile with consumers and differentiate themselves from the price promotion tactics of the major multiples.

New health and safety guide for small businesses

A bid to force small businesses to pay for their own health and safety inspections is being criticised by the Forum of Private Business, which has published a Health and Safety Guide to help negotiate the minefield of regulations.

Comment: Kathryn Glass champions indie merchants

Consumers, bamboozled with an endless succession of promotions and a lack of real knowledge, can find it difficult to judge value and quality.

Could you be the Rioja Retailer of the Year?

There's still time for independent merchants to enter the Wines from Rioja Retailer of the Year Competition.

New faces at SITT Autumn

A host of boutique importers, agencies and wineries dedicated to serving the independent sector have signed up to SITT Autumn.

Supplier who have signed up to Best Practice Guidelines for independent merchants

More suppliers are signing up to the Harpers Best Practice Guidelines designed to make trading arrangements with independent wine merchants as open and transparent as posible.

Indie blog: Mike Matthews on uniformity among suppliers

Indies object to Majestic tactics

Independent wine merchants are becoming increasingly agitated by what they see as Majestic's "disgraceful" promotional tactics to take more of their market share.

SITT and Boutique Wineries link up

A collaboration of specialist importers, agencies and boutique wineries dedicated to supplying the independent sector will be showing off their wares on September 24 in London.