Multiple Retailer - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Majestic Wine announces first post-sale tasting

Published: 25 September, 2019

Majestic Wine has revealed details of its first tasting event since its acquisition by US private equity firm Fortress for £95 million early last month.

New global buying hub will see Aldi pool its resources across Europe

Published: 16 September, 2019

Aldi has revealed additional details of its latest move to create a wine-buying hub in Salzburg, Austria, which will have a major impact on the way the discounter buys, blends and sells wines across markets.

Aldi goes premium with new Icons range

Published: 10 September, 2019

Aldi is launching a brand new range of online exclusives in order to capture growing interest from customers who are willing to trade up and explore.

Own-label and discounters fuel supermarket sector return to growth

Published: 20 August, 2019

Supermarket sales have recovered from a poor July to post 1% growth in the last four weeks, according to new data from Nielsen.

Looking ahead: Simon Cairns, BWS category trading manager, Co-op

Published: 07 August, 2019

As the first half of 2019 draws to a close, Harpers asked key trade figures to highlight the current challenges, ongoing trends and opportunities

The UK’s favourite wine supermarket

Published: 05 August, 2019

Working together with Wines Direct, Harpers brings you the results of a huge survey into Britain’s wine-buying habits. Lisa Riley reports

Majestic sale confirmed

Published: 02 August, 2019

The sale of Majestic Wine to US private equity firm Fortress has been confirmed.

Retail sales fall for longest period since 2011

Published: 26 July, 2019

Retail sales fell for the third consecutive month in the year to July, marking the longest period of decline since 2011, according to the latest CBI monthly Distributive Trades Survey.

LWF: Private label wine grows market share to 40%

Published: 23 May, 2019

Private label wine continues to encroach on the market share of branded wine, it has been revealed - while private label for the entire grocery sector has already eclipsed branded FMCG products.

Waitrose launches new “experimental” range of wine

Published: 16 May, 2019

Waitrose is launching nine new own label wines from “lesser-known” grape varieties.

Co-op ramps up rosé range

Published: 10 May, 2019

The Co-op has “massively boosted” its rosé portfolio, adding 10 new lines as part of a spring range refresh.

CMA blocks Sainsbury’s and Asda merger

Published: 25 April, 2019

The proposed merger between Sainsbury’s and Asda has been blocked by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

The Naked Gun

Published: 11 April, 2019

The Majestic brand has taken a bullet and is soon to be haemorrhaging stores, handing an opportunity to independents to fill the gap. Jo Gilbert reports

Independents prepare to fill the gap left by Majestic

Published: 11 April, 2019

The Majestic brand has taken a bullet and is soon to be haemorrhaging stores – prompting businesses to reconsider their position on the high street.

Tesco boss hails turnaround

Published: 10 April, 2019

Tesco is celebrating the biggest leap in profits since it was shaken by an accounting scandal five years ago, having seen annual pre-tax profits jump 28.8% to £1.67 billion.

Tim Atkin MW: What Rowan Gormley could learn from Tony Laithwaite

Published: 09 April, 2019

Wine critic, broadcaster, co-chair of the IWC

Shift from shop to showroom is vital for the future of retail, says Majestic CEO

Published: 27 March, 2019

The chief executive of the newly rebranded Naked Wines has defended the decision to trim down its 200-store estate while shifting investment focus to the online side of the business.

Sainsbury’s Asda merger “unlikely” to impact consumer choice as supermarkets offer to unload 150 stores

Published: 25 March, 2019

The tie-up between Britain’s second and third largest supermarkets will have no detrimental impact on the diverse and “quick to adapt” supermarket sector, it has been suggested.

Q&A: Xenia Irwin MW, Waitrose Cellar

Published: 07 March, 2019

Xenia Irwin MW, wine buyer at Waitrose Cellar is in revelatory mood as she shares her passion for her job – and some childhood memories.

South America pips Italy into second place for UK drinkers

Published: 21 February, 2019

There has been a shift at the top of the UK’s hotly contested wine rankings, with the combined sales of South American heavyweights Chile and Argentina overtaking Italy, the UK’s second most quaffed region, in terms of value.