Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Lay & Wheeler looks to the future with new branding

Published: 28 March, 2022

Lay & Wheeler has unveiled new branding, the first rebrand for the company in over 10 years, reflecting the business’s focus on the future.

Ribera del Duero launches inaugural indie promotion

Published: 18 January, 2022

The Consejo Regulador of Ribera del Duero has unveiled plans to run a ‘Reach for Ribera’ promotion in February, involving 25 independent wine merchants across the UK.

Cambridge’s Veni Vidi Bibi charity bash delivers for children

Published: 09 September, 2021

Cambridge Wine Merchants inaugural Veni Vidi Bibi charity dinner managed to raise £5,735 for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices in one sitting.

Wines of Portugal promo boosts independent sales

Published: 08 July, 2021

Wines of Portugal is reportting sales uplift of +286% in volume and +300% in value at participating retailers that were specially selected for June’s month-long promotion.

Drinks writer Bert Blaize opens wine shop

Published: 18 November, 2020

Wine writer Bert Blaize has teamed up with specialist car showroom Hexagon Classics to launch a wine and deli shop in London’s Highgate.

NZW Independent Retail Promotion dates set for spring 2121

Published: 20 October, 2020

New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW) has announced the new dates for its Independent Retail Promotion which, originally due to take place in April and May this year, will now run in spring 2021.

New indie Christmas campaign for Bordeaux

Published: 07 October, 2020

Bordeaux Wines UK has inveiled a new Christmas campaign aimed at independent wine merchants.

APPG report lays bare “disastrous impact” of VI-1s

Published: 22 September, 2020

A new report from a committee of MPs into the impact of VI-1 wine import certificates has warned that the red tape will cause chaos and price hikes.

Kate Goodman, Reserve Wines: Back to Business Q&A

Published: 25 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.

Specialist Indies talk shop and more...

Published: 13 November, 2019

Independent wine merchants are specialist retailers in their own right offering a service, range and expertise that more general retailers, such as grocers, will always struggle to match.

Social media gives indies plenty of likes

Published: 18 September, 2019

The rapid pace of tech evolution means merchants have even more to gain from platforms in the future says Lisa Riley

Gastro pubs: The challenges and joys of getting a pub wine list right

Published: 17 September, 2019

With the vast majority of pubs in the UK part of a chain where buying decisions on everything from beer and wine to crisps and peanuts are sanctioned by the chain’s owners, it can be very hard for wine merchants and importers to get an in, especially on the ground rather than in a boardroom setting.

Ask An Indie: Hal Wilson thinks pink

Published: 24 July, 2019

Everyone may be banging on about orange wine at the moment, but let’s face it there’s only one colour that’s flying of the shelves at this time of year – pink.

Looking ahead: Miles McInnes, Jascots Wine Merchants

Published: 29 December, 2018

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

Harpers Industry Briefing: The Future of the Agency Model

Published: 21 June, 2018

Harpers editor Andrew Catchpole gathered a cross-trade panel at the London Wine Fair to examine the evolving role of the agent in a fast-changing world, sparking a lively debate among those present. This event took in the implications for all those in the supply chain, asking what added service and value both producers and accounts now expect from agents, along with the issues, challenges and opportunities presented by a highly competitive marketplace. Here are some of the key points from the session