Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

DO Rueda inviting UK trade to join #TasteRueda campaign

Published: 07 November, 2022

Aimed at indies and restaurants, DO Rueda’s new marketing campaign is inviting sign-ups to join in the promotion of Rueda wines across the UK.

50 Best Indies gears up for 2023 list

Published: 03 November, 2022

Harpers popular 50 Best Indies listing is delighted to confirm that Walker & Wodehouse will be joining Cambridge Distillery as a sponsor for its forthcoming 2023 edition.

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.

UK’s 50 Best Indies 2021: 21-30

Published: 08 September, 2021

Welcome to the release of our third tranche of our 50 Best Indies list, from 21-30, also featuring all of those that have made it into the ranking from 31-50.

UK’s 50 Best Indies 2021: 31-50

Published: 07 September, 2021

Welcome to the release of our second tranche of our 50 Best Indies list, from 31-40, also featuring all of those that have made it into the 31-50 ranking so far.

Famille Helfrich recruits to grow business in London and the South

Published: 21 July, 2021

Famille Helfrich, the on-trade and independent merchant arm of French winemaker Les Grands Chais de France, has recruited Julien Dillmann as national account manager to spearhead its quest to grow and support its customer base in London and the South.

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.

Berkmann launches web portal for independent merchants

Published: 15 September, 2020

Berkmann Wine Cellars has launched an online resource for independent merchants featuring a tailored range of 300 wines.

Price cuts deliver unexpected bounce for Bordeaux 2019

Published: 09 July, 2020

A fast, four-week campaign with average price cuts of 21% confounded many expectations by delivering a successful En Primeur 2019 release.

Guy Woodward: Hawking luxury during a pandemic

Published: 05 June, 2020

Around the world, many governments have excelled in recent months, quickly imposing rigorous, e ective measures, and pu ing to one side economic and ideological concerns for the greater good. Others, by contrast, have focused on massaging the facts to suit their narrative and clinging to a preconceived agenda in the face of a gathering storm.

Indie merchants look to nurture new trade ahead of economic slump

Published: 29 May, 2020

With lockdown easing and non-essential shops beginning to reopen from 15 June, the independent merchant sector is increasingly planning ways of achieving some semblance of ‘normal’ store opening, while balancing health considerations with marked changes in trading conditions.

Liv-ex offers checklist for merchants looking to accelerate e-sales

Published: 18 May, 2020

Liv-ex has given a number of pointers to indie merchants who are looking to move sales online.

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.

UK’s 50 Best Indies 2019

Published: 09 September, 2019

Welcome to the UK’s 50 Best Indies 2019, celebrating and elevating those at the top of their game

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.

Oxford, Cambridge and Hennings ramp up joint buying initiative with first own label release

Published: 10 September, 2018

What do The Oxford Wine Company, Cambridge Wine Merchants and Hennings Wine have in common?

Madeira: Bringing it all back home with Archie McDiarmid

Published: 20 August, 2018

Barbeito Madeira through their UK importer, Raymond Reynolds, run the hugely successful #MadeiraDay competition in December each year, bringing together independent retailers from all over the UK in celebration of this outstanding fortified wine. Luvians won the 2017 edition and after being presented with our certificate at the Big Fortified Tasting earlier this year, I got the chance to fly out to the island (this Portuguese colony lies some 280 miles off the coast of Africa) to get a personal perspective on how this bewitching wine is made.

Sign up for SITT - the only trade tastings tailored purely for independent merchants

Published: 25 July, 2018

As the autumn buying window fast approaches Harpers is once again running it’s popular independent merchant-focused Specialist Importers Trade Tastings (SITT) in London and Leeds this September, and we look forward to welcoming all indie buyers at these events.