Wine and spirit industries to unite in combined campaign for 2% duty cut in 2015 Budget

The wine and spirits industry is to unite under a combined campaign and consider calling for a 2% cut in alcohol duty in the 2015 Budget.

Spirit Cartel drives growth through its premium range of spirits for the on-trade

Too often the world of high-end spirits can be a very grown-up affair, but not at Spirit Cartel, which is having great fun making a name for itself with an award-winning range of premium spirits.

Wine Fusion launches Conviviality exclusive NZ wine

The Wine Fusion has created New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Bay of Plenty especially for Conviviality's Bargain Booze and Wine Rack stores.

Jago to highlight Middle Eastern cuisine at new opening in Shoreditch

Brothers James and Richard Manning are doing their bit to shake up juice bars

Brothers James and Richard Manning started out in the industry selling fresh British juices made at their Herefordshire farm. Little did they know that their old wooden apple crates would transform their business, says Bernadette Costello, and they are now looking to work with wine and spirits brands.   

Enotria appoints Hallgarten's Helen Munday as marketing director

Hallgarten's marketing director Helen Munday is jumping ship to take up the same role at Enotria, starting in January 2015.

Chinese importer Summergate bought by Australia's Woolworths Liquor Company

Woolworths Liquor Group has bought Summergate, one of the China's most influential wine importers, in a move that considerably strengthens the Australian retail drinks giant's position in the country.

Scotch Whisky Association confirms Pernod chief Pierre Pringuet as new chairman

Pernod Ricard's chief executive Pierre Pringuet is the new chairman of the Scotch Whisky Association.

London Wine Fair on look out for niche wine importers for its Esoterica fixture for independents

Small, independent or niche wine importers have the chance to book a place in the Esoterica feature at the London Wine Fair that has seen 80% of last year's exhibitors book again for the 2015 show.

Pol Roger Portfolio to distribute Kilchoman whiskies

Islay distillery Kilchoman has signed a deal with the family-run Pol Roger Champagne to distribute its range of single malt whiskies.

Pernod Ricard UK shakes up senior team

Pernod Ricard has promoted Simon van Moppes to the role of group on-trade director for the global business and Chris Ellis to commercial director for wines and spirits in the UK as it re-examines its market priorities.

UK retailers need to target seven different types of shopper, says Kantar study

The changing face of  UK retailing is driven by the way consumers now behave and has created seven types of shopper, according to new research revealed today by Kantar Insights, the retail insights company.

US Black Friday shopping extravaganza takes off in the UK

Despite figures from Kantar indicating that the UK has not yet fully embraced the US shopping extravaganza that is Black Friday, this morning major retail websites like Tesco Direct have crashed due to the demand in online traffic, and there have been reports of fights breaking out amongst shoppers in stores around the country. Black Friday it appears has arrived in the UK.

David Gleave, Liberty Wines, and his key wine trends for Christmas

We believe Old World wines will continue to perform well this Christmas as people look to spend a little bit more and trade up to premium examples of known varieties. Alpha Zeta's Single Vineyard Pinot Grigio 'Terrapieno' from the Veneto is a good example of this.

TescoGate latest: UK shareholders poised to sue over "reckless" accounting errors

A UK law firm is preparing legal action on behalf of Tesco shareholders that will allege directors and senior managers "knew or were reckless" over the retailer's "untrue of misleading" accounts, which overstated profits by £263 million.

Supermarket and supplier relations at a "crossroads" warns Pernod Ricard UK chief

Relationships between major supermakets and their suppliers are now at a "crossroads" according to Denis O'Flynn, managing director of Pernod Ricard UK, and we should expect tighter regulations to bring more control over the sector.

Buckingham Schenk MD Jon Pepper joins Enotria

Jon Pepper MW, managing director at Buckingham Schenk, is leaving the firm to become buying and retail director at Enotria.

Reh Kendermann boss Nik Schritz to step down

Nikolaus Schritz has decided to "quit while ahead", leaving Black Tower brand owner Reh Kendermann at the end of the year with sales up over 20%.

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

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.

France Summit video: UK trade figures on how to get the most out of French wine

The chance to understand the France wine category better, hear the views of leading UK buyers, distributors and retailers and meet like-minded people in the trade were some of the key reasons given by visitors  who attended last month's Harpers France Summit.