Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Global Brands sales top £50m

Published: 04 April, 2019

Global Brands has reported a 19.5% sales increase, taking turnover to over £50 million to 30 September 2018.

Restaurants continue to struggle as consumers tighten purse strings ahead of Brexit

Published: 11 March, 2019

The restaurant trade suffered another tough month in February with the mini heatwave towards the end of the month failing to move the whole market much, despite an encouraging performance from the pub trade.

Amathus strengthens Priorat and Montsant

Published: 06 March, 2019

Amathus Drinks has expanded its Spanish portfolio with the addition of two new Catalonian producers: Celler l’Encastell from Priorat and Celler Masroig from Montsant.

Smartphones dominate as online retail sales hits new high

Published: 05 March, 2019

In the fast evolving online retail market, sales via smartphone have overtaken both desktop and tablet, and at a time when online grocery retail has reached a new high of £8 billion in the UK.

Thc could replace abv as consumers look to cannabis for an “intoxicating buzz”

Published: 28 February, 2019

Experts have warned that alcoholic drinks is the FMCG category most likely to be under threat from cannabis, which will be at the heart of a “global paradigm shift” over the next decade.

Deflecting the Brexit bomb

Published: 06 February, 2019

Counting Daphne’s, Scott’s, Sexy Fish, Caprice, the fast-growing Ivy Collection, J. Sheeky and Harry’s Bar among its swish restaurants and watering holes, Caprice Holdings can be seen as something of a barometer for trends sweeping through the premium on-trade. And the same can be said of the drinks offer, which morphs from cool cocktails to fine wines – and everything in between – across the various brands and estates.

Teetotal for a year: why waking up to low and no is the trade's biggest challenge

Published: 30 January, 2019

The driest month of the year is almost over. But as the trend for drinking less but better – or not at all – continues into 2019, many consumers will be planning to moderate well into February and beyond. Changing drinking habits is something we can no longer ignore, says Hugh Jones, former prestige sale manager at Mentzendorff and now head of sales at Lucky Saint, which produces a 0.5% beer. Reporting for Harpers, Jones explains why he has vowed to go teetotal for a year with the aim of exploring what trade needs to do to stay relevant – while also making the most of the opportunities in the ever-evolving drinks industry.

Neil Anderson's Key Trends for 2019

Published: 28 January, 2019

Kingsland Drinks’ marketing director Neil Anderson gives his view on eight trends that will impact the wine industry through the coming year

The Goring to launch seafood restaurant

Published: 22 January, 2019

THE GORING

There may be trouble ahead…

Published: 17 January, 2019

The number of leaders with confidence in the future of their own company within the eating and drinking-out market took a knock in the three months to November 2018, according to the latest CGA Business Confidence Survey.

Camillo Benso touches down in Mayfair

Published: 17 January, 2019

CAMILLO BENSO

Former Artesian double act launch Tayēr + Elementary

Published: 14 January, 2019

TAYĒR + ELEMENTARY

Looking ahead: Stephen Finch, Vagabond Wines

Published: 03 January, 2019

Once again we are catching up with the trade to find out how businesses looked to make the most of the all-important Christmas trading period, while also looking ahead to the challenges and opportunities 2019 will bring.

Waitrose predicts key drinks trends for 2019

Published: 02 January, 2019

Mezcal, canned and Greek wine are among the top drinks trends set to dominate the industry this year, according to Waitrose.

Q&A: Xavier Rousset, restaurateur and master sommelier, Trade

Published: 07 December, 2018

Xavier Rousset talks to Harpers about Trade, a new Soho-based private members’ club for the restaurant and bar world

New dawn for on-trade training

Published: 07 December, 2018

It’s been a good year for education in the on-trade, with a number of new initiatives being launched in the UK recently.

Q&A: Robert Cooke, beers, wines & spirits director, Tesco

Published: 15 November, 2018

Buoyed by October’s encouraging interim results, Tesco is heading into the festive season with a hand in the on-trade for the first time, thanks to its merger with cash-and-carry group Booker. Jo Gilbert speaks to BWS director Robert Cooke about what the deal means for alcoholic drinks sales at the UK’s biggest grocer

Proof Drinks appoints former Hi-Spirits chairman as MD

Published: 25 October, 2018

Drinks brand owner and distributor Proof Drinks is gearing up for the next phase of its growth as the company confirms the appointment of Jeremy Hill as managing director.

Demand for craft spirits in the US shows no sign of slowing

Published: 24 October, 2018

The appetite for craft spirits in the United States - arguably the nation behind the boom in craft drinks worldwide - still packs a major punch new research suggests.

Reaching the last mile

Published: 17 October, 2018

Fulfilling those “last mile” orders is expensive – especially for small businesses, but there are innovations that could help businesses better reach their local customer base.