Subscriber login Close [x]
remember me
You are not logged in.

Fears grow for second alcohol duty rise in less than a year

Published:  13 November, 2023

Wine and spirit businesses are calling on the chancellor to freeze alcohol duty until the end of parliament, when Jeremy Hunt delivers his Autumn Statement on 22 November.

Read more...

400 businesses demand alcohol duty freeze

Published:  06 November, 2023

Representatives of more than 400 businesses have written to the chancellor demanding an alcohol duty freeze in the Autumn Statement.

Read more...

Campari Q3 sales below consensus despite 4.4% increase

Published:  26 October, 2023

Italian liqueur group Campari has revealed its third quarter like-for-like sales rose 4.4%, below analyst expectations, due to a very tough comparison base (Q3 2022: +18.6%) and unfavourable weather conditions in Europe.

Read more...

Virgin Wines revenue down by £10m

Published:  25 October, 2023

Virgin Wines, one of the UK’s largest direct-to-consumer online wine retailers, has today (25 October) revealed its audited Annual Results for the period ended 30 June 2023 (FY23), are ‘in line with expectations’.

Read more...

New guidance published for alcohol sales via rapid home deliveries

Published:  09 October, 2023

The Retail of Alcohol Standards Group (RASG) has published a new set of guidance to prevent underage drinkers from purchasing alcohol via home delivery services.

Read more...

Duty hikes: Exploring abv options

Published:  09 October, 2023

With autumn tastings in full swing, and with it the opportunity for retailers, wholesalers and suppliers to show off new stock, Harpers wondered if there might be an influx of lower-abv wines in light of the duty hikes. James Bayley reports.

Read more...

Pernod Ricard exploring ‘divestment’ options for wine assets

Published:  06 October, 2023

Pernod Ricard, the world's second-largest wine and spirits seller, is reportedly relinquishing three of its most-prized wine assets. 

Read more...

Johnnie Walker is 5th most valuable UK brand

Published:  05 October, 2023

Scotch whisky brand Johnnie Walker is one of the top five most valuable UK brands according to research by Kantar, joining the likes of Vodafone, HSBC and Shell.

Read more...

Gusbourne sales up 25% in UK

Published:  28 September, 2023

Gusbourne, the premium English sparkling wine producer, has announced its unaudited results for the six months ended 30 June 2023, reflecting another solid performance for the company, and a boost for the English wine sector in general.

Read more...

Symington Family Estates and Berry Bros. & Rudd launch Hambledon takeover bid

Published:  25 September, 2023

A newly incorporated entity owned directly by Berry Bros. & Rudd and Atlantis Win Holdings, a member of the Symington Group, has initiated a takeover bid for Hambledon Vineyard.

Read more...

Naked Wines announces £15m loss after delaying results

Published:  20 September, 2023

Yesterday (19 September), online wine retailer Naked Wines announced a £15m loss in the year to 3 April. 

Read more...

Hospitality sales struggle amidst inflation despite 6.7% increase

Published:  08 September, 2023

According to the latest UKHospitality Quarterly Sales Tracker, turnover was up 6.7% in the last year to £137billion but, compared to 2019, remains almost 20% behind in real terms, when accounting for inflation.

Read more...

Pernod Ricard announces double-digit broad-based growth

Published:  31 August, 2023

In its FY23 performance review, Pernod Ricard, the world's second-largest wine and spirits seller, grew net sales by 10% (€12,137m).

Read more...

Premium drinks stand tall amid against cost-of-living crisis

Published:  31 August, 2023

Premium alcohol brands are continuing to gather pace in the face of a mounting global cost of living crisis, new analysis suggests, with aspirational drinking still very much on top form.

Read more...

Lipstick effect brightens up sales of alcohol – until reality (duty) bites?

Published:  09 August, 2023

Economic depression tends to lead consumers to splash out on little luxuries. This is the idea behind the ‘lipstick effect’, coined by Estée Lauder’s Leonard Lauder to describe the rocketing rise of lipsticks in 2008, post the 9/11 attacks in New York and while global markets teetered on the brink of financial meltdown. By extension – and with the cost of living and wage stagnation pushing prices higher – alcohol still seems to fall within a comparatively ‘affordable luxury’ bracket.

Read more...

Pub closures surge again in Q2 breaking Q1 record

Published:  07 August, 2023

Pub closures reached back-to-back quarterly records in Q2 2023, smashing the previous unwanted benchmark set in Q1.

Read more...

UK chains enjoy profit increase

Published:  07 August, 2023

According to research from UHY Hacker Young, the UK’s Top 100 restaurant groups have recorded a twelvefold increase in their profits in the last six months, rising from £19.9m in September 2022 to £241.8m in March 2023.

Read more...

‘Most buyer-friendly Champagne market in recent memory’ says Cult Wine

Published:  07 August, 2023

Cult Wine, the fine wine investment platform, believes the ‘slow-down’ of high-end vintage Champagne prices might provide an opportunity for potential investors in the coming months.

Read more...

Over the line on duty

Published:  04 August, 2023

So, the deadline has come and gone – and despite an avalanche of criticism, including a letter sent by Hennings Wine owner Matt Hennings to his local MP in June, begging the government to wake up and smell the bonfire, the trade is now facing increases to the tune of 20% or 44p per 75cl bottle.

Read more...

Reduction in product innovations, as economic pressure bites for drinks brands

Published:  31 July, 2023

Circana, the leading advisor on consumer complexity, has launched its Race for Resilience: Innovation Pacesetters report for Europe. Covering the six largest markets in Europe (France, Italy, Germany, Spain, UK, and the Netherlands), the report reveals declining product innovations for alcoholic drinks brands across the last two years.

Read more...