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The week that was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

Published:  10 March, 2017

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have put together a review of the top online news, Q&As, and opinion stories.

Most Read: Aside from the inevitable Budget increases, some positive news appeared on the horizon this week. 

Our Hot 100 list of on-trade influences continued to stir debate, while new MWs and head honchos at leading brands brought fresh blood to our industry. 

There were also changes afoot, with Prosecco and other sparklers continuing to erode Champagne's usual Christmas sales, and Bourbon was predicted to emerge as the major threat to domestic sales of Scotch over the next five years. 

 

Budget Blues: A resounding chorus of disappointment was heard loud and clear at Harpers this week. Following Hammond's decision not to heed the trade's warnings about inflationary rises, we can expect to see increases of 8p for a bottle of wine and 43p for a bottle of gin. 

More from the Budget itself and how it will affect the trade on the links below. 

 

 

Analysis and insights: The Budget was on the lips of everyone this week, including Harpers' editor Andrew Catchpole who argued that creating a race to the bottom with suppliers and retailers trying to undercut each other is counterintuitive for the health of the industry and consumers. 

Elsewhere, the march of the discounters continued, this week with Lidl coming under Angela Mount's spotlight. 

  

People and Opinion: Columnist Tim Atkin held his ground on the importance of engaging in politics for the sake of the future of the wine trade. 

Meanwhile, Guy Woodward dissects the 'annual moan' around 'inevitable' duty rises. 

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