Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Co-op launches online tastings for customers

Published: 04 April, 2024

The Co-op has launched online wine tastings for its members, offering customers exclusive access to the producers behind its own-label ranges.

Co-op overhauls wine offer with new in-store layout and lines

Published: 23 October, 2023

Co-op, the UK’s leading convenience chain, has made major changes to its wine aisle layouts in over 2,000 stores, following research and feedback from its members. It has also introduced five new wines, under the retailer’s Irresistible premium range.

Co-op lets customers do the talking

Published: 14 June, 2023

James Bayley reports back from the Co-op’s latest tasting and hears what’s up the multiple retailer’s sleeve for the future of its wine range.

Asda: Adding variety

Published: 23 May, 2023

Asda has appeared quiet on the drinks front of late, but big change has been brewing, as Angela Mount reports.

Sustainability Report: The Co-op interview

Published: 18 April, 2023

For decades the Co-op has led the way in ethical trading and renewable energy in the grocery sector. In 2023, how is this reflected in its BWS offering? James Bayley reports.

Multiples: Keeping wine accessible

Published: 27 January, 2023

Co-op and Asda BWS buyers tell James Bayley how they are attempting to ensure their consumers can continue to enjoy value-for-money wines in the bleak economic landscape.

Multiples: Consumers swapping to convenience stores

Published: 12 September, 2022

The pandemic years have shown a marked alteration in the fundamental patterns of shopping. During the first lockdown, there was a noticeable shift to more local shopping, as consumers strove to minimise contact with others. Today it would appear this trend has embedded itself in the very mindset of the average shopper, with convenience stores now accounting for 28.9% of UK grocery shopping.

Retail market starting to return to pre-Covid norms

Published: 04 July, 2022

According to Kantar, sales are falling at all the major multiples, but it’s not all doom and gloom. During the 12 weeks to 12 June, supermarket sales, including alcohol, groceries and softs, fell 1.9% year on year. Supermarket alcohol sales are also declining, down 12% year on year in the same period.

Rosé set to steal summer show

Published: 17 May, 2022

It is a wine category often overlooked by keen officiants as being too delicate and perfume-y, lacking the panache and complexity of its rivals. However, multiples prefer profit margins over pretentiousness and have helped make rosé the fastest-growing wine category for over a decade.

Trade finds no easy solution in glass sustainability debate

Published: 21 April, 2022

For the near future, at least, the glass wine bottle is here to stay, albeit with a re-evaluation of how it is used, with consumer perception being a major hurdle to change.

Multiples: New world, same aisle

Published: 20 April, 2022

Supermarket wine ranges are continuing to evolve in 2022, as James Bayley discovers.

Harpers Sustainability Webinar: The Future of Glass

Published: 13 April, 2022

With sustainability firmly back at the top of the agenda for trade and consumers alike, Harpers is partnering with North South Wines to host a panel debate on the future of the glass bottle.

Co-op becomes first supermarket to sell Chateau La Negly

Published: 07 July, 2021

Languedoc producer Chateau La Negly has made its wine available to buy for the first time at a UK supermarket with a launch into Co-op.

Perrin Châteauneuf for Co-op pays homage to Randall Grahm

Published: 30 June, 2021

Famille Perrin has produced a Châteauneuf du Pape exclusively for Co-op.

Q&A: Santiago Navarro, CEO and co-founder, Garçon Wines

Published: 02 December, 2020

Harpers has something of a packaging focus in this month’s issue, due to be published this Friday 4 December. As a preview, we caught up with Santiago Navarro, the creative force behind flat bottle innovator, Garçon Wines. Made from 100% recycled plastic, this innovative new format scored a major partnership with Accolades Wines this year, which will see a number of the company’s brands launch with the flat bottle format. Starting with the installation of a ‘flat’ bottling line at the company’s Bristol manufacturing base – the first of its kind in the UK – the company is now looking ahead to its imminent UK supermarket debut with the re-launch of Accolade’s eco brand, Banrock Station, in the Co-op. We spoke to Navarro about his ambition to re-shape the wine aisle.

Gyles Walker, Co-op: Back to Business Q&A

Published: 27 August, 2020

As the trade measures up to extraordinary times and swings through summer, leading businesses and operators take stock of trading conditions in the new normal.

Co-op continues expansion with first Romanian and Uruguayan wines

Published: 12 March, 2020

Co-op’s has broadened its portfolio by adding its first wines from Romania and Uruguay.

Co-op grows green offering

Published: 18 February, 2020

Co-op has expanded its green offering with its first unfiltered and organic natural wine alongside a new trio of other sustainably-sourced wines.

Off-Piste appoints former Waitrose and Co-op buyer

Published: 17 January, 2020

Off-Piste Wines has appointed former Waitrose and Co-op buyer Maria Elener as sourcing and supplier manager for Europe.

Roundtable: Pinotage catches up

Published: 05 September, 2019

South Africa has undergone Darwinian-levels of evolution over the past decade. Where the country – and its flagship varietal – goes from here formed the crux of Harpers’ recent roundtable in association with Kumala Wines. Jo Gilbert hosted the debate.