Red Squirrel goes up against larger rivals with £12 in-house blend

Niche wine importer Red Squirrel has released a new range of £12 in-house blended wines through which they hope to compete with the grey squirrels of the wine world.

Bibendum grows Italian premium portfolio with Apulian addition

Bibendum has added a selection of wines from artisan Italian producer, Masseria Li Veli, to its portfolio of premium wines.

Gruppo Campari sells Carolans and Irish Mist for $165mn

Gruppo Campari is selling the Carolans and Irish Mist brands to American company Heaven Hill Brands.

Castro’s rum heads to London

London-based agency Spirit Cartel has been taken on to distribute Isla del Tesoro rum, which for 50 years was made for controversial Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro’s personal consumption.

Profit more than doubles at Conviviality

The Conviviality steam train shows no sings of stopping if its FY17 results are anything to go by.

Cellar Trends continues Rosolio resurrection with new deal

Branded alcohol distributor, Cellar Trends, has taken on the distribution and marketing for Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto with the hopes of launching the Rosolio category into the UK.

New commercial manager at Hatch Mansfield

UK agent and distributor Hatch Mansfield has appointed Daniel Hart to the newly created role of commercial manager.

Brewdog upgrades supply chain with new agreement

The ever-expanding Brewdog is looking to make its current storage and distribution arrangement more sophisticated with a new logistics agreement with XPO.

Woodwinters talks plans for London and beyond

Despite the Brexit-induced cloud hanging over London, the draw of the city and pressure from winery partners to be represented in the capital was behind Woodwinters’ decision to open up an office in the south.

Liberty Wines makes first foray into Sake

Liberty Wines has become the UK agent for Tosa Brewery’s Keigetsu range, marking the first time they’ve added a Sake into their portfolio.

Woodwinters plans UK-wide reach from new London office

Scottish agency and fine wine merchants Woodwinters is heading south of the border in order to give its agencies better distribution around the UK.

Berkmann’s Jacquie Kay passes away

It is with great sadness that Harpers has learned of the passing of Berkmann Wine Cellars long-serving sales director, Jacquie Kay.

Spotlight on Off-Piste Wines

Off-Piste Wines is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Established by long-term business colleagues Paul Letheren and Anthony Fairbank, the company has grown from a tiny embryo to one of the most respected supermarket suppliers in the UK, with a focused business model, and a turnover of around £30 million.

New Morrisons listing for Viñalba and Buckingham Schenk

Buckingham Schenk has added new Malbec rosé to its Viñalba wine label as the brand celebrates its 10-year anniversary.

David Gleave MW: 20 years of Liberty Wines

The year is 1997.

Distell revives Angostura distribution deal

Distell, Africa’s leading producer of wines, spirits, ciders and RTDs has announced it is reviving its distribution partnership in the UK with Angostura, world’s largest producer of aromatic bitters.

Movers and Shakers: Conviviality, Justerini & Brooks, Douglas Laing

A number of key appointments and distribution agreement have been percolating through the trade this week.

Sales almost double at Conviviality

The LWF: A UK-focused event

Jo Gilbert looks ahead to the most important event in the trade calendar, now in its fourth year of consolidation since becoming a UK-focused fair

Brighton Gin founder joins JF Hillebrand

Logistics provider JF Hillebrand UK has appointed a new business development manager of Porter and Laker, the company’s UK-focused fine wine division.