Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

ExCellar enters administration

Published: 29 January, 2013

ExCellar, the independent wine merchant owned by Simon Baile, the former managing director of Oddbins, has been placed into administration.

Spirited Wines to roll out cheese deli concept

Published: 07 December, 2012

Spirited Wines has launched a cheese deli counter at 11 of its stores and is hoping to roll the concept out across the estate once trials are complete.

Saint-Chinian AOC focuses on UK market

Published: 29 November, 2012

The southern French appellation of Saint-Chinian in the Languedoc is stepping up its activity in the UK market next year.

Booths to move away from promo-led deals

Published: 23 November, 2012

Booths is to move away from promotionally-led offers in 2013 to give its wine and spirits offering a more independent feel, according to its wines and spirits buyer Andy Green.

CIVL buyers' trip: Ana Sapungiu

Published: 05 November, 2012

Encouraging new UK listings of Languedoc wines was the aim behind the recent CIVL study tour to the region, organised in conjunction with Harpers.

Harvest shortage: producers urged to rein in prices

Published: 02 November, 2012

Distributors are urging producers to be true to long-term partnerships and not be "too greedy" when it comes to putting prices up, as the impact of 2012's short harvest is felt.

Mike Stoddart: How daft do we think consumers are??

Published: 31 October, 2012

There's been much discussion lately about "de-mystifying" wine; does the traditional wine vocabulary still have any great relevance, or does it merely obfuscate and deter people from the specialist shops; or was it all rather vague in the first place?

CIVL buyers' trip to Languedoc

Published: 19 October, 2012

Demonstrating to buyers the variety found in the Languedoc and aiming to extend the region's listings in the UK is the aim behind the CIVL's latest buyer's trip.

Oddbins blog: hunt for UK's top novice wine taster

Published: 19 October, 2012

A sustainability officer at Camden Council has been declared the UK's best amateur wine taster as winner of Oddbins' The Palate 2012 competition.

New MW boosts Berry Bros total to six

Published: 13 September, 2012

Berry Bros & Rudd now has six Masters of Wine on its staff, following the news that its marketing manager Catriona Felstead MW, has gained the qualification.

Independent wine merchants return to Norwich

Published: 23 August, 2012

Norwich is seeing the return of the independent wine merchant, as Harper Wells becomes the second to open in the past three months.

Norwich sees second independent return to city

Published: 22 August, 2012

Norwich is seeing the return of the independent wine merchant, with Harper Wells as the second to open in the last three months.

Oddbins takes stand against Olympics marketing rules

Published: 24 July, 2012

Oddbins has called on small businesses to find creative ways to circumvent the "legal straitjacket" surrounding the Olympics, and has developed its own off-the-wall marketing push.

Oddbins hunts for Britain's best amateur wine taster

Published: 30 May, 2012

Independent wine merchant Oddbins has launched The Palate, a competition to find the country's best amateur wine taster.

BRICs to surge by 80% in red wine in next five years

Published: 22 May, 2012

BRIC markets will grow their red wine sales by 80% in the next five years - according to Euromonitor's Spiros Malandrakis.

Indies buy wine direct to benefit from euro exchange rate

Published: 16 May, 2012

Independent retailers are seizing the opportunity to buy wines direct in order to boost their margins thanks to sterling's four-year high against the euro.

Drinks trade makes the Rich List

Published: 30 April, 2012

The drinks trade secured around a dozen spots in the Sunday Times' Rich List 2012, published yesterday.

Oddbins matches London's mayoral candidates with wines

Published: 25 April, 2012

Oddbins, the 35-strong high street wine retailer, has selected seven wines that "sum up" each of the mayoral candidates.

Struggling drinks firms should seek help early

Published: 19 April, 2012

Drinks firms shouldn't wait until they're in distress before seeking help in the form of financial support, one expert has said.

Oddbins' creditors left hanging

Published: 19 April, 2012

Oddbins creditors still haven't got any money back after the company went into administration and, while "preferential" suppliers will recover all monies owed, unsecured creditors will get just 1p in the £1 back, a creditors' report has revealed.